As children, whenever we touched a bottle packed with medicine, one question often arose: "What is the white cotton inside?" Some of you may have found the answer, while others may still be curious. In this blog, we will explore the significance of pharmaceutical coils.

What are Pharmaceutical Coils?

Pharmaceutical coils, commonly referred to as damage control coils, are small, tightly wound strips made from materials such as rayon, cotton, or polyester. Typically white and featuring a soft texture, these coils are designed for easy insertion into bottles. They serve to protect medicines from damage caused by both external and internal factors.

How Do Pharmaceutical Coils Improve Packaging Efficiency?

Using a pharmaceutical coil is not an invention of the 20s, but this practice has been rooted in pharmaceutical packaging history since the early 90s. With evolving technology, the same process is being streamlined for better results and increased shelf life. Let's take a look at how pharmaceutical coils improve packaging efficiency.

• Moisture and humidity can cause a great deal of damage to medicines. The cotton coils absorb excess moisture and keep the environment inside the bottle clean and dry.

• The unavoidable movement of medicine bottles from one place to another can cause the meds to break, as there is some space inside these bottles. The cotton coil acts as a buffer, reducing the movement of medicines inside the bottle by eliminating the space.

• The practice of placing cotton in tablet and capsule bottles originated before significant innovations in the pharmaceutical industry. Since then, most of the pharma companies use coils to maintain product integrity and avoid contamination.

•  Finding Pharmaceutical coils in your medicine bottle is one of the best ways to ensure that the medication has not been disturbed before reaching the consumer.

Types of Pharmaceutical Coils

Now you know why pharmaceutical coils are important, but do you know which type would be the best? Since medicines vary in their sensitivity to factors such as moisture, contamination, and movement, the choice of coil material depends on the requirements of these meds.

The pharmaceutical coil is available in three types of fiber: cotton, rayon, and polyester. Here’s a detailed description of each:- 

1.   Cotton Fiber

The pharmaceutical Cotton Coil is made from 100% purified cotton. The softer and cleaner the cotton, the better absorbent it will be. The cotton coil protects the medicine from breaking, keeps moisture away, and is biodegradable.

(We use 100% purified cotton that is soft, clean, and meets USP and CFR requirements for food contact substances.)

Key Features of Cotton Pharmaceutical Coils:

• Natural Fiber: Made from 100% real cotton that is safe and soft. 

• Low Moisture Content (≤8%): Keeps medicines dry by absorbing minimal moisture. 

• Creates a Dry Environment: The cotton coil creates a dry atmosphere inside the bottle, ensuring that pills and tablets are protected from moisture. 

• Cuttable: The soft cotton fiber can be easily cut to the desired length as needed

• Biodegradable: Being a biodegradable material, the cotton coil breaks down easily, making it environmentally friendly. 

2.   Rayon Fiber

Rayon pharmaceutical coils are synthetic fibers made from cellulose, recognized for their soft, odorless, and nonreactive qualities. These coils serve as fillers to eliminate headspace in containers, ensuring the stability and integrity of pharmaceutical products during transportation.

Key features of Rayon Pharmaceutical coil:

• Uniform Fiber Length: Rayon coils feature a consistent fiber length, making them easy to cut or tear to the desired size.

• Moisture Content: Rayon coils typically have a moisture content of no more than 11%, which helps maintain a dry environment inside the bottle.

• Biodegradable: Rayon is a biodegradable material, making it an eco-friendly option for pharmaceutical packaging.

• Sterility: Rayon coils are often used in sterile environments to ensure they do not introduce contaminants into the packaging.

3.   Polyester Fiber

Pharmaceutical polyester coils are odorless, white, soft, and non-absorbent material mostly used in the packaging of soft-gel capsules and other solid dosage forms. They are made from 100% polyester fibers and derived from petroleum. They are known to retain humidity levels inside the bottle.

Key features of polyester Pharmaceutical coil: