The Impact of Syringe Age Prior to Filling on Migration of Subvisible Silicone-Oil Particles into Drug Product

Silicone oil is often applied to the inner surface of glass syringes and cartridges to reduce friction between the glass surface and elastomeric plunger stopper. This oil can appear as intrinsic and non-proteinaceous particles in the ejected fluid or drug product. Limited data is available to understand the impact of age (time between syringe manufacture and filling) on silicone oil migration into the drug product. This study compares subvisible particle count and extrusion force of siliconized syringes from two different manufacturers stored at ambient condition for 2-3 (fresh syringes) and 13-14 (aged syringes) months then filled and placed at 40°C for an additional three months. The fresh syringes exhibit a 2.5-fold increase in subvisible particle count compared to those aged ones. Moreover, the fresh syringes exhibit up to a 2-fold increase in extrusion force. These findings suggest the degree and amount of silicone oil migration is influenced by the time in storage of the glass syringe prior to filling. This rapid communication highlights syringe storage time prior to filling as a factor to be considered during development.