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A Review on Emerging Technologies in Pharmaceutical Packaging: From Anti-Counterfeiting to Green Solutions
Krishang Sikaria1, Amatha Sreedevi1, Nandini Srivastava1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs and Management, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.
AAPS Pharmscitech
|November 11, 2025
Summary
This review highlights advancements in pharmaceutical packaging, focusing on anti-counterfeiting, drug monitoring, quality preservation, sustainability, and patient compliance through innovative technologies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Packaging Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Supply Chain Management
Background:
- Counterfeit medicines pose a significant global health risk, necessitating advanced security features.
- Maintaining drug integrity and patient adherence are critical challenges in pharmaceutical distribution.
- Growing environmental concerns drive the demand for sustainable pharmaceutical packaging solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent innovations and emerging trends in pharmaceutical packaging.
- To explore advancements in five key areas: anti-counterfeiting, drug monitoring, quality preservation, sustainability, and patient compliance.
- To highlight the role of novel packaging technologies in addressing pharmaceutical industry challenges.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of recent innovations in pharmaceutical packaging.
- Analysis of security technologies for anti-counterfeiting (e.g., taggants, digital watermarks).
- Examination of smart packaging solutions for drug monitoring (e.g., RFID, indicators) and patient compliance.
Main Results:
- Physical-chemical identifiers and overt/covert features enhance pharmaceutical product authenticity verification.
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and colorimetric indicators improve drug monitoring and safety.
- Novel packaging materials and smart systems offer enhanced drug quality preservation and patient compliance.
- Eco-friendly packaging alternatives are gaining traction to reduce environmental impact.
Conclusions:
- Innovations in pharmaceutical packaging are crucial for combating counterfeit drugs and ensuring product integrity.
- Smart packaging technologies offer significant potential for supply chain security, patient safety, and improved medication adherence.
- The future of pharmaceutical packaging lies in integrating security, monitoring, quality preservation, sustainability, and patient-centric features.
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