Applicability of polypropylene/polyethylene glycol/molecular sieve composites as desiccant pharmaceutical packaging materials

Abstract

Pharmaceutical oral dosage forms are vulnerable to moisture-induced damage during transport and storage. This paper investigates the applicability of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and molecular sieve (MS) as packaging materials, focusing on their moisture-absorbing properties, to mitigate this issue. PP/PEG/MS composites were developed in this study to replace conventional desiccants. These composites absorb moisture via hydrophilic channels, physically formed by PEG and MS. The efficacy of moisture absorption is influenced by the number of these PEG channels, functioning as molecular sieves. Increasing MS content in the composites led to decreased mechanical strength, attributed to an inhomogeneous interface with the PP. In storage tests, the composites effectively reduced moisture content and water activity, particularly in multivitamin tablet packaging. These results indicate that the PP/PEG/MS combination efficiently protects the hydration of pharmaceutical products and can be used as a packaging material.