Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
PHARMACEUTICAL CONTAINER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2022/200623
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical container. The container is particularly suited for the storage and transportation of pharmaceutical, sensitive ingredients, such as e.g. mRNA.

Inventors:
BICKER MATTHIAS (DE)
BRÜNING CHRISTOPH (DE)
SPENDE ANNE (DE)
TOLEDO RODRÍGUEZ FLOR (DE)
KLAUSE MICHAELA (DE)
ROTHHAAR UWE (DE)
WOYWOD TANJA (DE)
RUDIGIER-VOIGT EVELINE (DE)
DJORDJEVIC-REISS JOVANA (DE)
BIEDENBENDER SYLVIA (DE)
BAUCH HARTMUT (DE)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2022/058033
Publication Date:
September 29, 2022
Filing Date:
March 25, 2022
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
SCHOTT AG (DE)
International Classes:
C03C17/00; A61K9/00; B05D1/00; B05D7/22; C03C3/087; C03C3/091; C03C17/30; C03C23/00; C23C16/04; C23C16/515
Domestic Patent References:
WO2019064263A12019-04-04
WO2021074423A22021-04-22
WO2021213945A12021-10-28
WO2017075531A12017-05-04
WO2003015122A12003-02-20
Foreign References:
US20100075077A12010-03-25
US5972436A1999-10-26
US6599594B12003-07-29
US6383642B12002-05-07
EP21164784A2021-03-25
Other References:
DITTER DOMINIQUE ET AL: "Characterization of surface properties of glass vials used as primary packaging material for parenterals", EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS, vol. 125, 1 April 2018 (2018-04-01), NL, pages 58 - 67, XP055937673, ISSN: 0939-6411, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2017.12.018
BUSCHMANN ET AL., VACCINES, vol. 9, 2021, pages 65
RUCKEBUSCHBLANCHET, ANALYTICS CHIMICA ACTA, vol. 765, 2013, pages 28 - 36
JUANTAULER, ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA, vol. 1145, 2021, pages 59 - 78
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
FUCHS PATENTANWÄLTE PARTNERSCHAFT MBB (DE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. Pharmaceutical container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative mode ToF-SIMS data, has a relative lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factor1 of less than 0.67.

2. Pharmaceutical container according to claim 1 , wherein the container has an absolute LNP- incubated MCR score of lipid factor1 of less than 7 x 1013, less than 5 x 1013, or less than 2 x 1013.

3. Pharmaceutical container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 of at least 1 x 1012, and/or a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-organic factor1 of at least 2.

4. Pharmaceutical container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pharmaceutical container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of silicon-inorganic factor1 of at least 1 x 1013, and/or a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-inorganic factor1 of up to 5.

5. Pharmaceutical container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of organic factor1 of at least 1 x 1012, and/or a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of organic factor1 of at least 0.2.

6. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ToF-SIMS data include n datasets consisting of ion-specific masses and their corresponding intensities such that a ToF-SIMS result measured in a specific coating or container can be attributed a specific position in an n-dimensional compositional space; wherein one or more factors, selected from lipid factorl, silicon-organic factor1 , silicon-inor- ganic factor1 and organic factor1 , have a factor-specific MCR loading, indicating a concep- tional component in said n-dimensional compositional space which can be attributed to said one or more factors, wherein the factor-specific MCR loading characterizes the one or more factors by listing the ions that contribute to the definition of said factor; wherein each absolute LNP-incubated MCR score or relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio represents the abundance of the corresponding factor in the coating or container.

7. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: fatty acid-ions; [CnH2n-1O2]-, wherein n is 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18; [CnH2n-3O2]-, wherein n is 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18; [CnH2n-5O2]-, wherein n is 16 or 18; phosphatidyl-choline ions; [(CH)nH2O4P]-, wherein n = 0, 1, 2 or 3, and/or

- silicon-organic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the fol- lowing ions: silane species, silicon-carbon species, polysiloxane species based on the for- mula [OSiR1R2]n-, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, and wherein n is any integer between 2 and 10; and/or

- silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the fol- lowing ions: silicon species; silicon oxide species, aluminium-species, aluminium oxide spe- cies and/or boron species and/ or boron oxide species; halogen species; alkali oxide spe- cies; earth alkali oxide species.

8. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: [C10H17O2]-, [C10H19O2]-, [C12H21O2]-, [C16H29O2]-, [C16H31O2]-, [C16H32O2]-, [C18H31O2]-, [C18H33O2]-, [C18H35O2]-, [PO3]-, [PH2O4]-, [CH3O4P]-, [C2H4O4P]-; and/or

- silicon-organic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the fol- lowing ions: [SiC]-, [SiCH3O]-, [SiCH3O2]-, [SiC2H5O]-, [Si2CHO2]-, [SiC3H9O]-, [Si2C5H15O2]-, [Si3C5H15O4]-; and/or

- silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the fol- lowing ions: OH-, Al-, Si-, P, Cl-, NaO-, AIO-, BO2-, SiHO-, AIO2 , SiO2-, SiH5O2-, Si3H3O2-, Si2HO5-.

9. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, the following ions: [C10H19O2]-,

[C12H21O2]-, [C16H29O2]-, [C16H31O2]-, and [C18H35O2]-; and/or - silicon-organic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, the following ions: [SiCH3O]-, [SiCH3O2]·, [SiC2H5O]-, [SiC3H9O]-, and [Si2C5H15O2]-; and/or

- silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, the following ions: OH-, Si-, SiO2-, SiH5O2-, and Si3H3O2-.

10. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the MCR scores are calculated using an MCR with a total of 3, 4 or 5 MCR-factors.

11. Pharmaceutical container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container fulfills one or more of the following conditions:

- a LNP-incubated haze value of less than 50%, or less than 30%, measured according to the ASTM D 1003-13 standard using illuminant D65 and 2° observer, wherein the LNP-in- cubation includes freezing to -80 °C, and incubating for 4 weeks at -80 °C; and/or

- a water contact angle of at least 105 °, measured according to DIN 55660-2 - 2011-12.

12. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the con- tainer is a glass container or a polymer container.

13. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the con- tainer has one or more of the following properties:

- a wall thickness between 0.50 and 10.0 mm, preferably 1.00 and 4.00 mm; and/or

- a volume capacity of the container of 0.1 ml to 1000 ml, preferably, 0.5 ml to 500 ml, more prefer-ably 1 ml to 250 ml, more preferably 2 ml to 30 ml, more preferably 2 ml to 15 ml, more preferably about 1 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 4, ml, 5 ml, 6 ml, 7 ml, 8 ml, 9 ml, 10 ml, 11 ml, 12 ml, 13 ml, 14 ml or 15 ml; more preferably 5 to 15 ml.

14. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the con- tainer is a syringe, a cartridge, an ampoule or a glass vial.

15. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the con- tainer comprises

- a glass composition comprising 50 to 90 wt.% SiO2, and 3 to 25 wt.% B2O3., or

- a glass composition comprising aluminosilicate, preferably comprising 55 to 75 wt.% SiO2, and 11.0 to 25.0 wt.% AI2O3.

16. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the con- tainer comprises a glass composition comprising 70 to 81 wt.% SiO2, 1 to 10 wt.% AI2O3, 6 to 14 wt. B2O3, 3 to 10 wt.% Na2O, 0 to 3 wt.% K2O, 0 to 1 wt.% Li2O, 0 to 3 wt.% MgO, 0 to 3 wt.% CaO, 0 to 5 wt.% BaO.

17. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the container comprises a glass composition comprising 72 to 82 wt.% SiO2, 5 to 8 wt.% AI2O3, 3 to 6 wt. B2O3, 2 to 6 wt.% Na2O, 3 to 9 wt.% K2O, 0 to 1 wt.% Li2O, 0 to 1 wt.% MgO, 0 to 1 wt.% CaO.

18. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the container comprises a glass composition comprising 60 to 78 wt.% SiO2, 7 to 15 wt. B2O3, 0 to 4 wt.% Na2O, 3 to 12 wt.% K2O, 0 to 2 wt.% Li2O, 0 to 2 wt.% MgO, 0 to 2 wt.% CaO, 0 to 3 wt.% BaO, 4 to 9 wt.% ZrO2.

19. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the container comprises a glass composition comprising 50 to 70 wt.% SiO2, 10 to 26 wt.% AI2O3, 1 to 14 wt. B2O3, 0 to 15 wt.% MgO, 2 to 12 wt.% CaO, 0 to 10 wt.% BaO, 0 to 2 wt.% SrO, 0 to 8 wt.% ZnO, 0 to 2 wt.% ZrO2.

20. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the container comprises a glass composition comprising 55 to 70 wt.% SiO2, 11 to 25 wt.% AI2O3, 0 to 10 wt.% MgO, 1 to 20 wt.% CaO, 0 to 10 wt.% BaO, 0 to 8.5 wt.% SrO, 0 to 5 wt.% ZnO, 0 to 5 wt.% ZrO2, 0 to 5 wt.% TiO2.

21. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the container comprises a glass composition comprising 65 to 72 wt.% SiO2, 11 to 17 wt.% AI2O3, 0.1 to 8 wt.% Na2O, 0 to 8 wt.% K2O, 3 to 8 wt.% MgO, 4 to 12 wt.% CaO, 0 to 10 wt.% ZnO.

22. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the container comprises a glass composition comprising 64 to 78 wt.% SiO2, 4 to 14 wt.% AI2O3, 0 to 4 wt.% B2O3, 6 to 14 wt.% Na2O, 0 to 3 wt.% K2O, 0 to 10 wt.% MgO, 0 to 15 wt.% CaO, 0 to 2 wt.% ZrO2, 0 to 2 wt.% TiO2.

23. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coat- ing comprises the elemental species Si, C, O and H.

24. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coat- ing comprises at least one layer having a carbon content of at least 55%.

25. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coat- ing comprises at least one layer, wherein the coating, or at least one layer of the coating, fulfills the following parameter: [Si2C5H15O2-]20/[Si2C5H15O2-]80 ³ X1 [Si2C5H15O2-]; wherein [Si2C5H15O2-]20 are the counts of [Si2C5H15O2-] ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 20% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface; and wherein [Si2C5H15O2-]80 are the counts of [Si2C5H15O2-]80 ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface, wherein x1[Si2C5Hi5O2-] is 1.2, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 8, or 12.

26. Pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coat- ing comprises at least one layer, wherein the at least one layer of the coating fulfills the following parameter(s):

[Si2C3 H9O3-]20/ [Si2C3 H9O3-]80 ≥ x1 [Si2C3H9O3-], wherein x1[si2C3H9O3-] is 1.1, preferably 1.5, more preferably 2, more preferably 3; and/or

[Si2C3 H9O3-]20/ [Si2C3 H9O3-]80 ≤ x2[Si2C3H9O3-], wherein x2[Si2C3H9O3-] is 100, preferably 75, more preferably 50, more preferably 40, more preferably 30, more preferably 20, more preferably 10, more preferably 8, more preferably 6, more preferably 5, more preferably 4, wherein [Si2C3 H9O3-]20 are the counts of [Si2C3 H9O 3-], ions measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 20% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface, and wherein [Si2C3 H9O3-]80 are the counts of [Si2C3 H9O3-]80 ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface.

27. Filled pharmaceutical container comprising:

- the pharmaceutical container according to any one of the preceding claims; and - a pharmaceutical composition comprising lipid-based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparticles.

28. Filled pharmaceutical container according to claim 27, wherein the lipid-based carrier sys- tems or lipid nanoparticles comprise one or more of the following compound classes: a.) a phospholipid; and/or b.) cholesterol or a steroid functionalised at the C24 position with a linear or branched alkyl chain, wherein the linear or branched alkyl chain comprises 1 to 50 C atoms, wherein the C24 position is defined according to lUPAC nomenclature; and/or c.) a PEG-modified lipid; and/or d.) a cationic lipid.

29. Filled pharmaceutical container according to claim 27, wherein the pharmaceutical compo- sition is liquid or a frozen liquid and comprises a.) 1.05 mg/mL to 1.95 mg/mL phospholipid; and/or b.) 2.3 mg/mL to 4.3 mg/mL cholesterol; and/or c.) 0.56 mg/mL to 1.05 mg/mL PEG-modified lipid; and/or d.) 0.50 mg/mL to 9.40 mg/mL cationic lipid.

30. Filled pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the lipid nanoparticles are characterised by one or more of the following properties: i) a polydispersity index (PDI) value < 0.5, or ≤ 0.1 ; and ii) a z-average diameter of 50 nm to 200 nm, or 50 to 100 nm, measured with Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) using a Malvern Zetasizer.

31. Filled pharmaceutical container according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the phar- maceutical composition comprise RNA, e.g. mRNA or siRNA or saRNA.

32. Use of the pharmaceutical container according to any one of the claims 1 to 26 for the stor- age and/or transport of pharmaceutical compositions comprising lipid-based carrier sys- tems, in particular lipid nanoparticles.

Description:
Pharmaceutical container

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical container. The container is particularly suited for the storage and transportation of pharmaceutical compositions with sensitive ingredients, such as e.g. mRNA-LNP based drug products.

Background

Lipid-based carrier systems, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), are a modern drug delivery ve- hicle that is used for pharmaceutically active, sensitive ingredients, such as e.g. mRNA.

LNPs used for mRNA vaccines against SarS-CoV-2 are based chemically different types of li- pids, e.g. phospholipids, cholesterol, PEG-modified lipids and cationic lipids. Cationic lipids bind mRNA due to their opposite molecular charges. mRNA molecules are chemically sensitive and require high demands on their storage conditions, for example, in some instances, temperatures well below -20 °C to preserve the drug.

Buschmann et al. ( Vaccines 9, 2021, 65) described an overview of mRNA delivery systems with a focus on lipid nanoparticles used in the then current SARS-CoV-2 vaccine clinical trials.

Accordingly, high demands are placed on the containers for the storage and transport of mRNA vaccines. RNA-based active agents are highly potent drugs, requiring only very small dosages. As of today, these medicines are available in multi-dose containers. It is important that each dose drawn from the container contains the same amount of active agent, and that the active agent is present in the container in its original form even after long terms of storage.

Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a container for pharmaceutically active, sensitive ingredients which diminishes and/or avoids the adhesion and possible inactivation of lipid-based carrier systems.

Summary of invention

In a first aspect, this disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical container comprising an inner sur- face and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative mode ToF-SIMS data, has a relative lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factor1 of less than 0.67, less than 0.5, less than 0.3 or less than 0.13.

In a second aspect, this disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative mode ToF-SIMS data, has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of lipid factor1 of less than 7 x 10 13 , less than 5 x 10 13 , or less than 2 x 10 13 .

In a third aspect, this disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical container comprising an inner sur- face and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative mode ToF-SIMS data, has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 of at least 1 x 10 12 .

In a fourth aspect, this disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical container comprising an inner sur- face and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative mode ToF-SIMS data, has a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-organic factor1 of at least 2, or at least 5.

In a fifth aspect, this disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical container comprising an inner sur- face and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container has an LNP-incubated haze value of less than 50%, or less than 30%, measured according to the ASTM D 1003-13 standard using illumi- nant D65 and 2° observer, wherein the LNP-incubated haze value is obtained after freezing to - 80 °C, and incubating for 4 weeks at -80 °C.

The container according to this disclosure is suitable for pharmaceutical compositions and over- comes the problems associated with containers known in the state of the art. The container al- lows storage and transportation of pharmaceutical compositions, such as compositions compris- ing lipid-based carrier systems, such as lipid nanoparticles, and specifically mRNA, or siRNA or saRNA containing formulations, including vaccines. The container overcomes the problem(s) of multi-dose uniformity and preservation of the pharmaceutical composition in its original form, even after long terms of storage.

Whereas a vast variety of coated containers are already known, there has remained a challenge to provide pharmaceutical containers that are suitable for the storage and transport of composi- tions comprising lipid-based carrier systems, and lipid nanoparticles in particular. The subject- matter according to this disclosure meets this desire by providing a container with a coating which has improved adhesion repellent properties. In this context, “improved adhesion” means decreased adhesion. Even after long terms of storage, adhesion of the constituents of the lipid- based carrier systems is very low. Thus, dose-uniformity is excellent and the pharmaceutical composition remains intact and unaltered.

The improved adhesion properties of the container are embodied and expressed by virtue of the factors and their scores obtained using MCR as described herein-below.

In a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a filled pharmaceutical container comprising the phar- maceutical container of this disclosure, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising lipid- based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparticles.

In a seventh aspect, this disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative mode ToF-SIMS data, particularly without LNP-incubation, has an absolute MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 of at least at least 3 x 10 12 , and/or a relative MCR score ratio of silicon-organic factor1 of at least 2; or an absolute MCR score of silicon-inorganic factor1 of up to 3 x 10 13 , and/or a relative MCR score ratio of silicon-inorganic factor1 is up to 5.

The filled pharmaceutical container advantageously allows for excellent dose uniformity and in- ertness towards lipid-based carrier systems because it shows less adhesion of ingredients of pharmaceutical composition to the inner surface of the container. Advantageously, when the pharmaceutical composition comprises lipid-based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparti- cles, there may be less adhesion of the lipids and/or lipid nanoparticles to the inner surface of the container.

In an eighth aspect, the invention relates to the use of the pharmaceutical container for the stor- age and/or transport of pharmaceutical compositions comprising lipid-based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparticles.

Detailed description

The pharmaceutical container according to the invention may be a syringe, a cartridge, an am- poule or a vial. The container may be a glass container, such as a borosilicate glass container, an aluminosilicate glass container or a boroaluminosilicate glass container. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical container may be manufactured from a suitable polymer, such as cycloolefinic copolymer (COC) or cycloolefinic polymer (COP). The inner surface of the pharmaceutical con- tainer is coated with a coating which provides for desirable surface properties with respect to the adhesion of lipid-based carrier systems, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). For the pur- poses of establishing the factors and scores of this disclosure, the coated container is subjected to a negative-mode ToF-SIMS data acquisition and a subsequent MCR (Multivariate Curve Res- olution) analysis, as further outlined in detail below. Any reference to “LNP incubated” in this disclosure means that the container or coating was incubated with LNPs before measurement.

If a score is denoted as a “relative” score ratio, the respective values are to be understood as being the relative ratio of the score value of the coated container divided by the score value of an uncoated reference container based on the same MCR factor. E.g., for measuring a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio between a coated container and an uncoated container, wherein the uncoated container is a reference container, both containers are incubated with the same specific LNP composition as applied for the coated container. Both the coated container and the reference container are analysed via ToF-SIMS and MCR to obtain absolute MCR scores, e.g. of lipid factor1 The relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio, e.g. of lipid factor1, is obtained by dividing the resulting MCR score of the coated container by the MCR score of the reference container. For example, the relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factorl may be less than 0.5. As mentioned before, the reference container may be an uncoated con- tainer. The reference container may be of the same dimensions and materials and bulk compo- sition as the coated container (except for the coating of course).

Advantageously, the coated container is less prone to adhesion of lipids, which is expressed in a low relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factor1 when comparing the coated con- tainer to the reference container.

In an analogous embodiment, this disclosure provides for a pharmaceutical container compris- ing an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container, based on negative-mode ToF-SIMS data, has a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factor1 of less than 0.5, wherein the coated container is compared to a reference container, wherein the relative LNP- incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factor1 is obtained by dividing the absolute MCR score of li- pid factor1 of the coated container by the absolute MCR score of lipid factor1 of the uncoated container.

In an embodiment, LNP-incubation of a glass container, either being an uncoated glass con- tainer or a coated glass container, comprises cleaning the container with UltraPure water (purity 1 analogue DIN ISO 3696 with ≤ 0,1 μS/cm at 25 °C), drying under laminar-flow conditions, in- cubating the container with a reference LNP-composition by filling the container with the refer- ence LNP-composition, freezing to -80 °C, incubating for 12 hours at -80 °C, and then thawing to 5 °C within 12 hours, and then emptying the containing followed by a cleaning step of the in- ner container surface by rinsing 10 times with ultrapure water and subsequent drying under lam- inar flow.

In a related embodiment, LNP-incubation of a polymer container, either being an uncoated poly- mer container or a coated polymer container, comprises incubating the container with a refer- ence LNP-composition by filling the container with the reference LNP-composition, freezing to - 80 °C, incubating for 12 hours at -80 °C, and then thawing to 5 °C within 12 hours and then emptying the containing followed by a cleaning step of the inner container surface by rinsing 10 times with ultrapure water and subsequent drying under laminar flow.

In one embodiment, the reference LNP-composition is the Comirnaty® vaccine drug product (li- cense number EU/1/20/1528).

In an alternative embodiment, the reference LNP-composition contains the following lipids in the indicated amounts: 7.2 mg/mL (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hex- yldecanoate), 0.83 mg/mL 2[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1.5 mg/mL 1 ,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 3.3 mg/mL cholesterol, in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) with a sucrose content of 10 wt.% and the following concentrations.

In one embodiment, the container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of lipid factor1 of less than 7 x 10 13 , less than 5 x 10 13 , or less than 2 x 10 13 , or even less than 0.5 x 10 13 .

In an embodiment, the container has a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of lipid factorl of less than 0.67, less than 0.5, less than 0.3 or less than 0.13.

In one embodiment, the container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 of at least 1 x 10 12 , at least 2 x 10 12 , or at least 3 x 10 12 . Optionally, the absolute LNP- incubated MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 may reach up to 9 x 10 13 , up to 7 x 10 13 , or up to 6 x 10 13 . In an embodiment, the container has a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-or- ganic factor1 of at least 2, at least 3, or at least 5. Optionally, the relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-organic factor1 may be up to 20, up to 15, or up to 10. It was found that an MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 in this range decreases lipid- and in particular LNP-adhe- sion to a remarkable extent.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of silicon-inorganic factor1 of up to 1 x 10 13 , up to 5 x 10 12 , or up to 3 x 10 12 . Optionally, this score may be at least 0.5 x 10 12 .

In an embodiment, the relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-inorganic factor1 is up to 5, up to 3, or up to 1.5. Optionally, this score ratio is at least 0.1, or at least 0.2.

In one embodiment, the container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of organic factorl of at least 1 x 10 12 , at least 2 x 10 12 , or at least 3 x 10 12 . and/or a relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of organic factor1 of at least 0.2, at least 0.5, or at least 1.0. Optionally, the relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio of organic factor1 is up to 10, up to 5, up to 2.0.

Optionally, the container has an absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of organic factor1 of up to 9 x 10 12 , up to 8 x 10 12 , or up to 6 x 10 12 .

Alternatively or in addition, the container may have corresponding, non-LNP-incubated score values. These values are obtained without LNP-incubation (“non-incubated”).

An absolute non-incubated MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 may be at least 3 x 10 12 , at least 5 x 10 12 , or at least 7 x 10 12 . Optionally, the absolute non-incubated MCR score of silicon- organic factor1 may reach up to 9 x 10 13 , up to 7 x 10 13 , or up to 6 x 10 13 .

A relative non-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-organic factor1 may be at least 3 x 10 12 , at least 5 x 10 12 , or at least 7 x 10 12 . Optionally, the absolute LNP-incubated MCR score of silicon- organic factor1 may reach up to 9 x 10 13 , up to 7 x 10 13 , or up to 6 x 10 13 .

An absolute non-incubated MCR score of silicon-inorganic factor1 may be up to 1 x 10 13 , up to 5 x 10 12 , or up to 3 x 10 12 . Optionally, this score may be at least 0.5 x 10 12 .

A relative non-incubated MCR score ratio of silicon-inorganic factor1 may be up to 5, up to 3, or up to 1.5. Optionally, this score ratio is at least 0.1 , or at least 0.2. In one embodiment of the pharmaceutical container, the ToF-SIMS data include n datasets con- sisting of ion-specific masses and their corresponding intensities such that a ToF-SIMS result measured in a specific coating or container can be attributed a specific position in an n-dimen- sional compositional space, wherein one or more factors, selected from lipid factor1 , silicon-or- ganic factor1 , silicon-inorganic factor1 and organic factor1 , have a factor-specific MCR loading, indicating a conceptional component in said n-dimensional compositional space which can be attributed to said one or more factors, wherein the factor-specific MCR loading characterizes the one or more factors by listing the ions that contribute to the definition of said factor, wherein each absolute LNP-incubated MCR score or relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio represents the abundance of the corresponding MCR factor in the coating or container. Provided that a (pre-)selected ion species has zero intensity or has a value of zero in the loading of a factor, then that ion species will not contribute to the loading and the related factor.

Figure 2A, Figure 3A and Figure 4A show MCR data generated from a bundle of ToF-SIMS spectra representing the n datasets consisting of ion-specific masses. Figure 2A and Figure 3A show the loading and score for the characteristic lipid factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative-ToF-SIMS spectra for adsorbed lipid-containing compounds. Figure 4A shows the loading for the characteristic silicon-organic factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative- ToF-SIMS spectra and Figure 4B the score for adsorbed silicon-organic compounds on the in- ner surface of a container.

The one or more factors may be selected from lipid factor1 , silicon-organic factor1 , silicon-inor- ganic factor1 and organic factor1 , wherein each of the factors has a factor-specific MCR loading which indicates a conceptional component in said n-dimensional compositional space which can be attributed to said one or more factors, wherein the factor-specific MCR loading characterizes each factor by listing the ions that contribute to the definition of said factor. The conceptional component corresponds to compound classes, such as e.g. lipids, siloxanes, and glass-typical species like silicon. As such the conceptional component is not present in the coating or on the container.

Lipid factor1 generally correlates with the presence of lipids, e.g. when the MCR score of lipid factor1 is high, the abundance of lipids is interpreted as high including in the assessment of ad- ditional information from the MCR scores of the other aforementioned factors. In one embodi- ment, the lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: - fatty acid-ions; [C n H 2n-1 O 2 ]- , wherein n is 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18;

[C n H 2n-3 O 2 ]-, wherein n is 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18;

[C n H 2n-5 O 2 ]-, wherein n is 16 or 18; phosphatidyl-choline ions;

[(CH) n H 2 O 4 P]-, wherein n = 0, 1 , 2 or 3.

Silicon-organic factor1 generally correlates with the presence of silicon-organic compounds, e.g. when the MCR score of silicon-organic factor1 is high, the abundance of silicon-organic com- pounds is interpreted as high, including in the assessment of additional information from the MCR scores of the other aforementioned factors. In one embodiment, the silicon-organic factorl includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: silane species, silicon-carbon species (i.e. species having Si and C atoms), polysiloxane species having the formula [OSiR 1 R 2 ] n -, wherein R 1 and R 2 are inde- pendently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, and wherein n is any integer between 2 and 10.

Silicon-inorganic factor1 generally correlates with the presence of inorganic compounds, e.g. when the MCR score of silicon-inorganic factor1 is interpreted as high including in the assess- ment additional information from the MCR scores of the other aforementioned factors, the abun- dance of inorganic compounds (e.g. glass components, or inorganic oxides) is high. In one em- bodiment, the silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: silicon species and/or silicon oxide species; aluminium oxide species and/or boron species and/or boron oxide species; halogen species. alkali oxide species and/or earth alkali oxide species.

In one embodiment, the lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: [C 10 H 17 O 2 ]-, [C 10 H 19 O 2 ]-, [C 12 H 21 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 29 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 31 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 32 O 2 ]-,

[C 18 H 31 O 2 ]-, [C 18 H 33 O 2 ]-, [C 18 H 35 O 2 ]-, [PO 3 ]-, [PH 2 O 4 ]-, [CH 3 O 4 P]-, [C 2 H 4 O 4 P]-. In one embodiment, the silicon-organic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: [SiC]-, [SiCH 3 O]-, [SiCH 3 O 2 ]-, [SiC 2 H 5 O]-, [Si 2 CHO 2 ]-, [SiC 3 H 9 O]-, [Si 2 C 5 H15O 2 ]-, [ Si 3 C 5 H 15 O 4 ]-. In one embodiment, the silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, one or more of the following ions: OH-, Al-, Si-, P-, Cl-, NaO-, AlO-, BO 2 -, SiHO-, AlO 2 -, SiO 2 -, SiH 5 O 2 -, Si 3 H 3 O 2 -, Si 2 HO 5 -. In one embodiment, the lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, at least five of the following ions: [C 10 H 17 O 2 ]-, [C 10 H 19 O 2 ]-, [C 12 H 21 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 29 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 31 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 32 O 2 ]-, [C 18 H 31 O 2 ]-, [C 18 H 33 O 2 ]-, [C 18 H 35 O 2 ]-, [PO 3 ]-, [PH 2 O 4 ]-, [CH 3 O 4 P]-, [C 2 H 4 O 4 P]-. In one embodiment, the silicon-organic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, at least four of the following ions: [SiC]-, [SiCH 3 O]-, [SiCH 3 O 2 ]-, [SiC 2 H 5 O]-, [Si 2 CHO 2 ]-, [SiC 3 H 9 O]-, [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 ]-, [Si 3 C 5 H 15 O 4 ]-. In one embodiment, the silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, at least five of the following ions: OH-, Al-, Si-, P-, Cl-, NaO-, AlO-, BO 2 -, SiHO-, AlO 2 -, SiO 2 -, SiH 5 O 2 -, Si 3 H 3 O 2 -, Si 2 HO 5 -. In one embodiment, the lipid factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, the following ions: [C 10 H 19 O 2 ]-, [C 12 H 21 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 29 O 2 ]-, [C 16 H 31 O 2 ]-, and [C 18 H 35 O 2 ]-. In one embodiment, the silicon-organic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, the following ions: [SiCH 3 O]-, [SiCH 3 O 2 ]-, [SiC 2 H 5 O]-, [SiC 3 H 9 O]-, and [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 ]-. In one embodiment, the silicon-inorganic factor1 includes, in its factor specific MCR loading, the following ions: OH-, Si-, SiO 2 -, SiH 5 O 2 -, and Si 3 H 3 O 2 -. In one embodiment, the MCR scores are calculated using an MCR with a total of 3, 4 or 5 MCR- factors. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical container comprises an inner surface and an outer sur- face, wherein at least part of the inner surface is coated with a coating, wherein on the coated inner surface the container fulfills one or more of the following conditions: - an LNP incubated haze value of less than 50%, or less than 30%, measured according to the ASTM D 1003-13 standard using illuminant D65 and 2° observer, wherein the LNP-incubated haze value is obtained after freezing to -80 °C, and incubating for 4 weeks at -80 °C; and/or - a water contact angle of at least 105 °, measured according to DIN 55660-2 - 2011-12. In one embodiment, the haze value is less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, or less than 20%, measured according to the ASTM D 1003-13 standard using illuminant D65 and 2° observer. In one embodiment, the haze value is at least 1%, at least 2%, at least 3%, or at least 5%, measured according to the ASTM D 1003-13 standard using illuminant D65 and 2° ob- server. The LNP incubated haze value is determined after incubating the containers with an LNP composition, wherein the LNP-incubated haze value is obtained after freezing to -80 °C, and incubating for 4 weeks at -80 °C. Other than that, the treatment is as described above of the LNP incubated MCR scores.

In one embodiment, the water contact angle is at least 105 °, or at least 110 °, measured ac- cording to DIN 55660-2 - 2011-12. In one embodiment, the water contact angle is 125 ° or less, or 120 ° or less, measured according to DIN 55660-2 - 2011-12. The water contact angle is de- termined on the container without prior LNP incubation.

In one embodiment, the container is a glass container or a polymer container.

In one embodiment, the container comprises a cyclic olefin copolymer. In one embodiment, the container comprises a cyclic olefin polymer.

In one embodiment, the container has one or more of the following properties:

- a wall thickness between 0.50 and 10.0 mm, or between 1.00 and 4.00 mm; and/or

- a volume capacity of the container of 0.1 ml to 1000 ml, 0.5 ml to 500 ml, 1 ml to 250 ml, 2 ml to 30 ml, 2 ml to 15 ml, or about 1 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 4, ml, 5 ml, 6 ml, 7 ml, 8 ml, 9 ml, 10 ml, 11 ml, 12 ml, 13 ml, 14 ml or 15 ml; optionally from 5 to 15 ml.

In one embodiment, the container has a wall thickness of 0.50 mm or more, 1.00 mm or more, or 2.0 mm or more. In one embodiment, the container has a wall thickness of 10.0 mm or less, or 7.00 mm or less, or 4.0 mm or less.

In one embodiment, the container is a syringe, a cartridge, an ampoule or a vial.

Glass composition

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 50 to 90 wt.% SiO 2 , and 3 to 25 wt.% B 2 O 3 .

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising aluminosilicate, optionally comprising 55 to 75 wt.% SiO 2 , and 11.0 to 25.0 wt.% AI 2 O 3 . In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 70 to 81 wt.% SiO 2 , 1 to 10 wt.% AI 2 O 3 , 6 to 14 wt. B 2 O 3 , 3 to 10 wt.% Na 2 O, 0 to 3 wt.% K 2 O, 0 to 1 wt.%

Li 2 O, 0 to 3 wt.% MgO, 0 to 3 wt.% CaO, and 0 to 5 wt.% BaO.

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 72 to 82 wt.% SiO 2 , 5 to 8 wt.% AI 2 O 3 , 3 to 6 wt. B 2 O 3 , 2 to 6 wt.% Na 2 O, 3 to 9 wt.% K 2 O, 0 to 1 wt.% Li 2 O, 0 to 1 wt.% MgO, and 0 to 1 wt.% CaO.

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 60 to 78 wt.% SiO 2 , 7 to 15 wt. B 2 O 3 , 0 to 4 wt.% Na 2 O, 3 to 12 wt.% K 2 O, 0 to 2 wt.% Li 2 O, 0 to 2 wt.% MgO,

0 to 2 wt.% CaO, 0 to 3 wt.% BaO, and 4 to 9 wt.% ZrO 2 .

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 50 to 70 wt.% SiO 2 , 10 to 26 wt.% AI 2 O 3 , 1 to 14 wt. B 2 O 3 , 0 to 15 wt.% MgO, 2 to 12 wt.% CaO, 0 to 10 wt.% BaO, 0 to 2 wt.% SrO, 0 to 8 wt.% ZnO, and 0 to 2 wt.% ZrO 2 .

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 55 to 70 wt.% SiO 2 , 11 to 25 wt.% AI 2 O 3 , 0 to 10 wt.% MgO, 1 to 20 wt.% CaO, 0 to 10 wt.% BaO, 0 to 8.5 wt.% SrO, 0 to 5 wt.% ZnO, 0 to 5 wt.% ZrO 2 , and 0 to 5 wt.% TiO 2 .

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 65 to 72 wt.% SiO 2 , 11 to 17 wt.% AI 2 O 3 , 0.1 to 8 wt.% Na 2 O, 0 to 8 wt.% K 2 O, 3 to 8 wt.% MgO, 4 to 12 wt.% CaO, and 0 to 10 wt.% ZnO.

In one embodiment, the container comprises a glass composition comprising 64 to 78 wt.% SiO 2 , 4 to 14 wt.% AI 2 O 3 , 0 to 4 wt.% B 2 O 3 , 6 to 14 wt.% Na 2 O, 0 to 3 wt.% K 2 O, 0 to 10 wt.%

MgO, 0 to 15 wt.% CaO, 0 to 2 wt.% ZrO 2 , and 0 to 2 wt.% TiO 2 .

Coating

In one embodiment, the coating comprises the elemental species Si, C, O and H.

In one embodiment, the coating comprises at least one layer having a carbon content of at least 55%.

In one embodiment, the coating is derived and/or generated from one or more of hexamethyl- disiloxane (HMDSO), hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), tetramethylsilane (TMS), trimethylborazole (TMB), tri(dimethylaminosilyl)-amino-di(dimethylamino)borane (TDADB), tris(trimethylsilyl)borate (TMSB), hexamethylcyclotrisiloxan (HMCTSO), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxan (OMCTS), decame- thylcyclopentasiloxan (DMCPS), dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxan (DMCHS), diacetoxy-di-t- butoxysilane (DADBS), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tris(trimethylsilyloxy)vinylsilane (TTMSVS), vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and/or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the coating comprises at least one layer, wherein the coating, or at least one layer of the coating, fulfills the following parameter:

[Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 20 /[Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 80 ≥ x1 [Si2C5H1502-] ; wherein [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 20 are the counts of [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 20% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface; and wherein [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 80 are the counts of [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 80 ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface, wherein x1 [Si2C5Hi502-] is 1.2, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 8, or 12.

In one embodiment, the coating comprises at least one layer, wherein the at least one layer of the coating fulfills the following parameter(s):

[Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 20 / [Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 80 ≥ X1 [Si2C3H903-] , wherein x1 [Si2C3H903-] is 1.1, preferably 1.5, more preferably 2, more preferably 3; and/or

[Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 20 / [Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 80 ≤ x2 [Si2C3H903-] , wherein x2 [Si2C3H903-] is 100, preferably 75, more preferably 50, more preferably 40, more prefer- ably 30, more preferably 20, more preferably 10, more preferably 8, more preferably 6, more preferably 5, more preferably 4, wherein [Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 20 are the counts of [Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 20% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface, and wherein [Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 80 are the counts of [Si 2 C 3 H 9 O 3 -] 80 ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface.

For this analysis a ToF-SIMS depth profiling measuring process is used, wherein the start was set to 0% of the time the sputter analysis process needed to reach the glass surface. At this point the ratio of the counts of [Al + ] ions to the counts of [Si + ] ions may be preferably 0.00. After a certain analysis time (sputter time), the value of the ratio of the counts of [Al + ] ions to the counts of [Si + ] ions is 0.10 or more. This point indicates the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface as aluminum is normally assigned as a glass element. This point is set to 100% relating to 100 % of the time the sputter analysis process needed to reach the glass surface.

The ToF-SIMS depth profiling process used for this measurement is different from the static ToF-SIMS method used to obtain the datasets for the MCR.

Filled pharmaceutical container

In one aspect, the invention provides a filled pharmaceutical container comprising the pharma- ceutical container of one of the first to fifth aspects of this disclosure, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising lipid-based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparticles.

In one embodiment, the lipid-based carrier systems or the lipid nanoparticles comprise one or more of the following compound classes: a.) a phospholipid; and/or b.) cholesterol or a steroid functionalised at the C 24 position with a linear or branched alkyl chain, wherein the linear or branched alkyl chain comprises 1 to 50 C atoms, wherein the C 24 position is defined according to lUPAC nomenclature and/or c.) a PEG-modified lipid; and/or d.) a cationic lipid.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is liquid or a frozen liquid and comprises a.) 1.05 mg/mL to 1.95 mg/mL phospholipid; and/or b.) 2.3 mg/mL to 4.3 mg/mL cholesterol; and/or c.) 0.56 mg/mL to 1.05 mg/mL PEG-modified lipid; and/or d.) 0.50 mg/mL to 9.40 mg/mL cationic lipid.

In one embodiment, the lipid nanoparticles are characterised by one or more of the following properties: i) a polydispersity index (PDI) value < 0.5, or ≤ 0.1 ; and ii) a z-average diameter of up to 200 nm, up to 150 nm, or up to 100 nm, such as 10 nm to 200 nm, 20 nm to 150 nm, or 50 to 100 nm, measured with Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) using a Malvern zetasizer.

In one embodiment, the z-average diameter of the lipid nanoparticles is 10 nm or more, 20 nm or more, or 50 nm or more.

The particle size, and PDI were determined at room temperature using a zetasizer Nano ZS from Malvern™ (Malvern Instruments Ltd., Worcestershire, United Kingdom). Size and PDI were measured after dilution to a lipid concentration of 0.07 mg/ml with a 10 mM phosphate buffer with a pH of 7.4 using the automatic mode. The default settings of the automatic mode of the zetasizer Nano ZS from Malvern™ (Malvern Instruments Ltd., Worcestershire, United King- dom) were the following: number of measurements = 3; run duration = 60 s; number of runs = 10; equilibration time = 60 s; refractive index solvent 1.45; refractive index dispersant 1.335; vis- cosity = 1.02 cP; temperature = 24.9 °C; dielectric constant = 78.5 F/m; backscattering mode (173°); automatic voltage selection; Smoluchowski equation.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition comprises RNA, e.g. mRNA or siRNA or saRNA.

Use

In one embodiment, the invention relates to the use of the pharmaceutical container for the stor- age and/or transport of pharmaceutical compositions comprising lipid-based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparticles.

The (filled) pharmaceutical container advantageously displays less adhesion of ingredients of pharmaceutical composition to the inner surface of the container. Advantageously, when the pharmaceutical composition comprises lipid-based carrier systems, in particular lipid nanoparti- cles, there may be less adhesion of the lipids and/or lipid nanoparticles to the inner surface of the container. Thus, dose uniformity and an unaltered pharmaceutical composition are safe- guarded.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)

In this disclosure “lipid-based carrier system” includes lipid-containing drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, micelles, SEDDS and lipid nanoparticles.

Solid lipid nanoparticles or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are nanoparticles composed of lipids.

In one embodiment, the lipid nanoparticles comprise one or more of the ionisable lipids dis- closed in Table 2 of Buschmann et al. ( Vaccines 9, 2021, 65), which is herein incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment, the lipid nanoparticles comprise a PEG-lipid, wherein the PEG-lipid is ob- tainable by PEGylation of a lipid.

In the context of the present disclosure, PEGylation refers to the process of covalent and non- covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer chains to (macro)molecules, such as e.g. lipids, which are then PEGylated.

In one embodiment, the lipid nanoparticles comprise one or more of the cationic lipids disclosed in Table 2 and Table 3 of WO 2017/075531 A1, which is herein incorporated by reference.

In the context of the present disclosure, a lipid may be understood as one of the four com- pounds or compound classes: cholesterol; fatty acids of a chain length of 12 carbon atoms or more up to 26 carbon atoms; triglycerides based on the condensation product of glycerin and three fatty acids which may be the same or different; sphingolipids and phospholids.

In one embodiment, the lipid nanoparticles comprise an ionisable lipid, DSPC (di-stea- roylphosphatidylcholine), cholesterol, and a PEG-lipid.

In one embodiment, the lipid nanoparticles additionally comprise polynucleotides, in particular RNA.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows photographs obtained from an uncoated glass vial and a coated glass vial, wherein the glass vial was manufactured with glass tubing (Fiolax® clear, Schott AG, Germany), subjected to a reference solution and a solution containing LNPs.

Figure 2A shows the loading for the characteristic lipid factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative-ToF-SIMS spectra for adsorbed lipid-containing compounds on the inner surface of glass vials.

Figure 2B shows the score values obtained for coated and uncoated glass vials from the MCR analysis based on the lipid factor1 with loading shown in Figure 2A. Each experiment was carried out in duplicate, both on the bottom wall and on the bot- tom-near wall of the inner surface of the glass vials.

Figure 3A shows the loading for the characteristic lipid factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative-ToF-SIMS spectra for adsorbed lipid-containing compounds on the inner surface of coated and uncoated polymer syringes made of COC-polymer.

Figure 3B shows the score values obtained for coated and uncoated polymer syringes from the MCR analysis based on the lipid factor with loading in Figure 3A. Each exper- iment was carried out in duplicate, both on the bottom wall and on the bottom- near wall of the inner surface.

Figure 4A shows the loading for the characteristic silicon-organic factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative-ToF-SIMS spectra for silicon-organic compounds on the inner surface of coated and uncoated glass vials, glass syringes and polymer sy- ringes.

Figure 4B shows the score values obtained for coated and uncoated containers from the MCR analysis of the data matrix shown in Figure 4A. Each experiment was car- ried out in duplicate, both on the bottom wall and on the bottom-near wall of the inner surface.

Figure 5A shows the list of ion species which are selected from the raw ToF-SIMS data in- cluding their intensities, obtained from a glass container.

Figure 5B shows the list of ion species which are selected from the raw ToF-SIMS data in- cluding their intensities, obtained from a polymer container.

Figure 6A shows the loading for the characteristic silicon-inorganic factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative-ToF-SIMS spectra for silicon-inorganic compounds on the inner surface of coated and uncoated glass vials.

Figure 6B shows the score values obtained for coated and uncoated containers from the MCR analysis of the data matrix shown in Figure 6A. Each experiment was car- ried out in duplicate, both on the bottom wall and on the bottom-near wall of the inner surface.

Figure 7 A shows the loading for the characteristic organic factor1 obtained from the data matrix of negative-ToF-SIMS spectra for organic compounds on the inner surface of coated and uncoated glass vials.

Figure 7B shows the score values obtained for coated and uncoated glass vials from the MCR analysis of the data matrix shown in Figure 7A. Each experiment was car- ried out in duplicate, both on the bottom wall and on the bottom-near wall of the inner surface. Methods

Glass container preparation

A coated glass container and an uncoated glass container (the latter serving as a reference container), both having the same dimensions, same glass type and glass composition, are treated under the exact same conditions.

For measuring the LNP-incubated MCR scores, the respective container is cleaned with Ul- traPure water (purity 1 analogue DIN ISO 3696 with ≤ 0,1 μS/cm at 25 °C) and dried under lami- nar-flow conditions. The container is then filled with a reference LNP-composition, frozen to -80 °C, incubated for 12 hours at -80 °C, and then thawed to 5 °C within 12 hours.

In a first variant, the reference LNP-composition is the Comirnaty vaccine (license number EU/1/20/1528).

In a second variant, the reference-LNP contains the following lipids in the indicated amounts:

7.2 mg/mL (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldec anoate), 0.83 mg/mL 2[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1.5 mg/mL 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero- 3-phosphocholine, and 3.3 mg/mL cholesterol, in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) with a saccharide content of 10 wt.% and the following concentrations.

Both containers are analysed via ToF-SIMS and MCR analysis (see next sections).

An absolute LNP-incubated MCR score means the MCR score obtained from a single container, either the coated glass container of the uncoated (reference) glass container, for one specific factor, wherein the factor is selected from lipid factor1 , silicon-organic factor1 , silicon-inorganic factor1 and organic factorl, each factor having a factor-specific MCR loading.

The relative LNP-incubated MCR score ratio refers to the quotient of the MCR score of a spe- cific factor between the coated glass container and the uncoated (reference) glass container. Polymer container preparation

A coated polymer container and an uncoated polymer container, both having the same dimen- sions, same glass type and glass composition, are treated under the exact same conditions.

The polymer container preparation is the same as for the glass container preparation, except that the cleaning with UltraPure water (purity 1 analogue DIN ISO 3696 with ≤ 0,1 μS/cm at 25 °C) and drying under laminar-flow conditions is omitted.

ToF-SIMS (Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry)

In the following the measuring method and the data evaluation of the specific ToF-SIMS meas- urement is explained in detail. For the measurement a TOF.SIMS 4 from lontof was used. If not stated otherwise, the ToF-SIMS are measured according to ASTM E 1829 und ASTM E 2695.

Measurement

The following parameter settings were used for the ToF-SIMS analysis: primary ion: Ga + ; (alternatively using a TOF.SIMS 5 and Bi + );

(primary ion) energy: 25000V; measuring area: 100 x 100 μm 2 ; primary ion dose density: 6 x 10 12 cm -2 ; surface discharge: via low-energetic electrons.

Spectral data were acquired for 100 s with subsequent integration.

Sample preparation

Each sample of a (coated) container was cut lengthwise in two pieces and positioned in such a way that the centerline of the primary ion gun of the ToF-SIMS apparatus hit the inner surface of the sample. The thus generated intrinsically ionised secondary ions have been analysed via Time-of-flight analysis and separated into different detectable mass/charge ratios. Accordingly, a high-resolution mass spectrum (Δm/m > 3000 for Si) is obtained covering both atomic and molecular ion species. Die surface sensitivity covers several few monolayers. Data preparation

The ToF-SIMS data include n datasets consisting of ion-specific masses and their correspond- ing intensities. Ion species/masses are selected from the raw ToF-SIMS data, including their in- tensities, as indicated in Figure 5A and Figure 5B for, respectively, a glass container and a poly- mer container. The ion-specific masses relate to negative ions only because the experiment is done in negative mode. For interpretation of the masses, the spectra library from IONTOF GmbH can be used. Every ion species/mass is normalised according to its individual variance.

Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR)

For the identification of MCR factors, the ToF-SIMS result are subjected to a subsequent multi- variate analysis via MCR (Multivariate Curve Resolution). MCR is a statistical analysis method, which in its most general approach decomposes a two-way data matrix D (m x n) into two matri- ces C (m x k) and S T (k x n), containing respectively pure concentration profiles and pure spec- tra of the k species of an unknown mixture, according to the equation D = CS T + E, wherein E is an error matrix containing the residuals of the data (Ruckebusch & Blanchet, Analytica Chimica Acta 765, 2013, 28-36). The MCR method has been adapted to decompose and analyse ToF- SIMS. Commercially available software can be used for this task, e.g. the software package SurfaceLab Ver 7.1., wherein optionally the number of factors is set to 3, 4 or 5. A general ac- count of how spectral information can be dissected is given by Juan & Tauler ( Analytica Chim- ica Acta 1145, 2021, 59-78).

Summing up, the ToF-SIMS result measured in a specific coating or container can be attributed a specific position in an n-dimensional compositional space. MCR is used to reduce the com- plexity of the ToF-SIMS result by summarizing the datasets into a more limited number of varia- bles, the so-called “factors”. The results of the MCR are a set of factors, loadings and corre- sponding scores. Each of the factors has a factor-specific MCR loading, indicating a concep- tional component in said n-dimensional compositional space which can be attributed to said fac- tor, wherein the loading characterizes the factor in that it lists the ions that contribute to the defi- nition of said factor. Each factor relates to substances present in or on the coating or container. To be clear, the conceptional component is not in fact present in the coating or container. Each score indicates the intensity of the corresponding factor. It correlates with the abundance of substances in or on the coating or container.

ToF-SIMS depth profiling using a sputter gun

Depth profiling values for the ions, e.g. the ions [Al + ] 20 , [Al + ] 80 , [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 20 and [Si 2 C 5 H 15 O 2 -] 80 , can be obtained according to the following method. Measuring method

For the measurement a TOF SIMS (TOF.SIMS 5 from lontof) can be used. If not stated other- wise, the TOF-SIMS are measured according to ASTM E 1829 und ASTM E 2695.

The following parameter settings were used for the TOF-SIMS:

For the analysis: primary ion: Bi 3+ ; energy: 30000 eV; measuring area: 200 x 200 μm 2 ; pattern: 128 x 128 random; and bismuth analysis current: 0.3 pA.

For the sputter gun (Argon Cluster source): sputter ion: Ar1051 (Argon); energy: 5000eV; sputter area: 500 x 500 μm 2 ; and sputter current of Ar-cluster source: 1 nA.

Furthermore: cycle time: 200 ps analyzer extractor: 2160V; analyzer detector: 9000V; charge compensation: flood gun; primary ion flight time correction: on; and gas Flooding: 9 x 10 -7 mbar.

A sample of a coated glass element, for example one half of an on the inside coated container, which was cut lengthwise in two pieces, is positioned in such a way that the centerline of the sputter gun and the centerline of the liquid metal ion gun of TOF-SIMS hit the coated area of the sample so that the sputter area covers the entire measuring area, preferably that the centerline of the sputter gun and the centerline of the liquid metal ion gun of TOF-SIMS hit the same point of the coated area of the sample. The TOF-SIMS measures either positive ions or negative ions. To obtain both kinds of ions, two measurements can be conducted using for each meas- urement a new area of the same sample or a new sample, e.g. the first and the second half of a coated container, which is cut lengthwise in two pieces.

Data evaluation

For the data evaluation all counts of ions are normalized to the [Si + ] ions and [Si-] ions, respec- tively, whereby the [Si + ] ions and [Si-] ions, respectively, are set to 1.

Additionally the point (sputter time), when the TOF SIMS analysis starts, is set to 0% and the point, when the glass surface is reached, is set to 100%. This is indicated by the [Al + ] signal and the [AIO 2 -] signal, respectively, as those signals can be clearly assigned to the glass.

In the case positive ions are measured, the point, when the sputter gun reaches the glass sur- face, may be, preferably is, the point, when the ratio of the counts of [Al + ] ions to the counts of [Si + ] ions is equal to or exceeds a value of 0.10 for the first time.

In the case negative ions are measured, the point, when the sputter gun reaches the glass sur- face, may be, preferably is, the point, when the ratio of the counts of [AIO 2 -] ions to the counts of [Si-] ions is equal to or exceeds a value of 0.10 for the first time.

The point, when the analysis, i.e. the measuring process, was started, was set to 0% of the time the sputter analysis process needed to reach the glass surface. At this point the ratio of the counts of [Al + ] ions to the counts of [Si + ] ions may be, preferably is, 0.00. After a certain analysis time (sputter time), the value of the ratio of the counts of [Al + ] ions to the counts of [Si + ] ions is 0.10 or more. This point indicates the time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface as aluminum is clearly assigned as glass element. Until this point, the ratio was never 0.10 or higher. Consequently, this point was set to 100%, since this is 100 % of the time the sputter analysis process needed to reach the glass surface.

Examples

Coated glass vial

A 20 R vial (glass vial manufactured with glass tubing, Fiolax® clear, Schott AG, Germany) was provided. As first pretreatment, a washing pretreatment was performed in which the vial was washed with ultrapure water with £ 10 μS/cm at 25 °C for two minutes at room temperature, for 6 minutes at 40 °C, and subsequently for 25 minutes at room temperature in a laboratory dish- washer (LS-2000 from HAMO AG). Afterwards, the vial was dried for 20 minutes at 300 °C. Subsequently, the vial was treated and coated simultaneously using an apparatus according to WO 03/015122 A1. For all plasma treatments, a microwave irradiation was used having a fre- quency of 2.45 GHz. The reaction chamber was the inside of the vial. Ambient conditions pre- vailed outside of the vial.

First, the inside of the vial was evacuated until a value of 0.05 mbar was reached. Afterwards, oxygen was filled in the vial, at a flow rate of 25 seem, until a pressure of 5 mbar was reached and then a plasma pretreatment was started. The plasma was excited with an input power of 5500 W in a pulsed mode with a pulse duration of 0.5 ms, and pulse pause of 1.8 ms. The plasma pretreatment was performed for 17 seconds until the temperature of the vial was 250 °C, and measured with a pyrometer at the middle of the cylindrical part of the vial.

Immediately afterwards the coating process was performed. The vial was filled with HMDSO (hexamethyldisiloxane), at a flow rate of 12.5 seem, and the pressure was set to 0.8 mbar.

Then, the vial was irradiated for 0.2 s (pressure: 0.8 mbar, flow rate 12.5 seem HMDSO, input power: 6000 W, pulse duration: 0.050 ms, pulse pause: 30 ms) and subsequently irradiated for 13 s (pressure: 0.8 mbar, flow: 12.5 seem HMDSO, input power: 4500 W, pulse duration: 0.008 ms, pulse pause: 1 ms).

Afterwards, a post-processing was performed, i.e. filling the vial with oxygen and cooling the vial to room temperature in the presence of oxygen to obtain a coated vial.

Alternatively, the coating may be prepared as described in EP 21164784.7, which is herein in- corporated by reference.

Coated polymer vials

Polymer syringes made of COC (cyclic olefin copolymer) of the Luer Lock format (1 mL volume) were used. A silicon-containing fluid was applied on the inner surface of the container, via a spray process or a bath process. The silicon-containing fluid may be a mixture of different sili- con-organic compounds, such as poly(organo)siloxanes, wherein at least one reactive compo- nent may be thermally cured to form a network.

Alternatively, the coating may be prepared analogously and according to the description in EP 21164784.7, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Reference Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP)

The coated glass vial was treated with either a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution or a Reference-LNP in the same PBS solution. The differently treated coated glass vial were sub- jected to the above described ToF-SIMS measurement and data were extracted according to the above described MCR analysis.

In a first variant, the reference LNP-composition was the Comirnaty vaccine (license number EU/1/20/1528).

In a second variant, the reference-LNP contained the following lipids in the indicated amounts: 7.2 mg/mL (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldec anoate), 0.83 mg/mL 2[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1.5 mg/mL 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero- 3-phosphocholine, and 3.3 mg/mL cholesterol, in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) with a saccharide content of 10 wt.% and the following concentrations.

Further LNP formulations

LNPs with similar formulations may alternatively be used which formulations may deviate up to 30 wt.% from the given quantities of individual lipid components.

Additionally the LNPs contain RNA, such as mRNA, particularly based on polynucleotides con- taining adenine.