Transportation for pharmaceuticals has become more crucial than ever in this rapidly growing field of modern science and medicine. Transportation is not a difficult task per se, definitely not as difficult as it used to be in the old times. The task is to deliver these medications in the right way.
The transportation of these medications has to be a well-planned journey that includes controlled temperature to shield sensitive drugs from lighting and moisture. Transportation for pharmaceuticals has become an important integral part of our global healthcare system as we continue to develop.
The cold chain supply in transportation for pharmaceuticals
This is a method of transportation that guarantees the temperature-sensitive medications remain safe and effective throughout the whole procedure, starting from production to patients receiving the medication.
In order to appropriately safeguard these vital drugs, the cold chain packaging entails packing, delivery, and storage. All of these are carefully controlled to avoid getting damaged. This entire process should be well curated because even a slit cane can damage the entire batch of drugs, resulting in the endangerment of the patient’s health as well as the loss of pharmaceutical companies.
Result of better outcomes because of improved transportation for pharmaceuticals
Effectiveness
With the accurate temperature set in the cold chain supply transportation, the effectiveness is maintained, and hence, the outcome of the medication is better.
Lesser waste
The better the temperature control, the less waste there will be from the manufactured batch of drugs.
Outward reception
with the help of modern transportation, the necessary medications are now able to reach far-off places that lack proper healthcare.
Innovations and modern technologies
The pharmaceutical industry, just like any other industry out there, is also experiencing the pleasure of the development and availability of new technologies that help facilitate services in transportation for pharmaceuticals, making the procedures easier, and accessible to more people at lower cost.
E-packaging or smart packaging
It would be very convenient if there was someone to keep informing the people responsible about the state of these medications while they were being transported and stored. But that is too much to ask for in terms of time, space, energy, and money. This is where AI comes into play.
Now packaging is available with sensors and data recorders, which provide real-time information of the status and condition of the drugs during storage and transportation. This version of monitoring enables vigilance by alerting when temperatures deviate from the programmed range and calls for action.
Nanoengineering in Transportation for pharmaceuticals
Handlers associated with this field can easily differentiate the product that has been contaminated from the rest with the help of nanoscaled, sensitive labels that change color, giving visual cues indicating the contamination.
This technology is being developed to be used with QR code labels and is effective across a wide temperature range.
Data analytics and the internet of things (IoT)
Data analytics and the internet of things have made far-reaching changes in this field of pharmaceuticals by communicating with the help of sensors that detect temperature, humidity, and other data. This has enabled the implementation of faster prevention measures.
This technology is also a game changer in terms of predictability beforehand by programmed algorithms that read previous and real-time data, temperature trends, calculate environmental factors, and transportation dynamics. The Internet of Things, combined with nanoengineering, improves the dependability of cold chain supply and results in product safety.
One such technology is the real-time monitoring device (RTMD) used in the transportation for pharmaceuticals. This device provides:
Internal and external temperature
Lid openings
GPS location
Battery level
Cold chain packaging
To maintain temperature for a longer period of time, insulation materials, phase change materials (PCM), and vacuum insulation panels are used for the purpose of, and as the name suggests, non-stop cooling during the entire transportation period.
Insulation materials for thermal protection:
Aerogels: being lightweight and porous, aerogels are capable of blocking the transfer of heat and acting as an insulation conduit.
Vacuum-insulated panels (VIPs): through the laws of physics, based on conduction and convection, vacuum-insulated panels act as insulation models by creating a vacuum between layers that will prevent the transfer of heat.
Phase change material (PCMs): this is an innovative insulation technique that keeps changing its matter states from solid to liquid or vice versa depending on and according to the absorption or release of latent heat.
Hydrogel for temperature extension
Vaccines can now be stored between 77 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit due to a biocompatible hydrogel that has been created to help protect vaccination proteins. This coating is also easily dissolved using a sugar solution and can be effectively used on patients.
This mode of transportation is still undergoing research but has a promising potential to be cost-friendly, making vaccines safer, more affordable, and more accessible.
Autonomous transportation for pharmaceuticals
Certain medications that are sensitive to temperatures are transported via drones, which are in-built with a proper temperature-control system. This is an instant and safe method, reducing the chance of temperature variations.
Though this technique is still in its early stages of research and development, success trips like drones delivering vaccines on a remote island in Malawi prove that this route has promising potential.
Blockchain monitoring
Giving you a transparency of the full documentation by beginning from manufacturing to delivery through a virtual log file, blockchain ensures the protection and safety of the medications and the patient’s health, respectively. This innovation has brought cold chain supply to new heights.
Here are some cold chain providing service companies
INDICOLD: founded in 2019, this is an on-demand cold chain services-provider company. Located in Palwal, India, its services include cold storage, on-site processing, redistribution, transport management, and co-packing. By installing energy-efficient integrations and solar panels, INDICOLD encourages sustainability.
Meds2go: founded in 2017, this is a medical logistic facility. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, this logistics firm offers cost reduction coupled with improved safety and transparency. They have a portable mini fridge that goes along with the main aim of cold chain supply.
Tec4med: founded in 2017, this is a smart cold chain solution provider for the pharma industry. Located in Darmstadt, Germany, they provide a supply chain tracking platform along with BitoBox and NelumBox, which are reusable shippers, and a storage facility with both cooling and heating properties, respectively.
BWR Innovations: founded in 2018, this is a temperature monitoring device company. Located in Fargo, USA, the BWR innovations, with the help of IoT devices like iNsite, T-Gate, and KDX integration, have helped assist in automated temperature monitoring.
Desert Valley Tech (DVT): founded in 2018, it provides canisters for cold chain storage. Located in Mesa, USA, Desert Valley Tech has helped in being a valuable asset for remote medical care by providing tools like HemaPorter and LifeDock that helps maintain the quality of organs and vaccinations by offering real-time temperature information and passive chill for up to five days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cold chain supply?
It’s the whole process of packaging, transportation, and storage of pharmaceutical products, all the while maintaining the chilled environment needed for these products.
Why is the chilled environment needed?
The chilled environment is crucial for the maintenance of the pharmaceutical products to maintain their quality because most of them are temperature sensitive and some may even be light sensitive.
How is the cold chain supply carried?
With the help of new advancements in technologies like smart packaging, nanoengineering, data analytics, the internet of things (IoT), etc., the cold chain supply has been made easier than before, ensuring pharmaceuticals and healthcare services its needed quality.
Conclusion
Even if the technologies keep getting more and more developed, this concept is something that will be needed throughout the time frame. This in itself is a momentous development for the pharmaceutical, healthcare, technology businesses, and logistic providers. These firms should stick together for more and better advanced technology inventions that will help facilitate better services and mitigate existing crises.
Also Read:
Why You Should Be Careful While Shipping Pharmaceuticals to Canada
State of the Art in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: What GMP Must Deal With
