Capsules and It ’ S Technology : an Overview

727 Abstract: The gelatin cap-sule shell may be soft or hard depending on their formulation. Capsules are intended to be swallowed whole by the patient. In instances where patients (especially children) are unable to swallow capsules, the contents of the capsule can be removed and added (e.g., sprinkled) on soft food immediately before ingestion. In the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, encapsulation refers to a range of techniques used to enclose medicines in a relatively stable shell known as a capsule, allowing them to, for example, be taken orally or be used as suppositories. Hard-shelled capsules, which are normally used for dry, powdered ingredients or miniature pellets, Both of these classes of capsules are made from aqueous solutions of gelling agents like:Animal protein mainly gelatine And Non-gelatin such as Plant polysaccharides or their derivatives like carrageenans and modified forms of starch and cellulose. Despite the great advantages, of gelatin capsules’, gelatin has several drawbacks that limit its use for capsules. The animal source of gelatin can be a problem for certain consumers such as vegetarians or vegans and religious or ethnic groups, Since unmodified gelatin is prone to cross linking when in contact with aldehydes, solubility problems might be expected with certain fill formulations. The non-gelatin capsule shells are made up of such as Starch, HPMC, PVA, and Alginate.