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Gelatin and Non-Gelatin Capsule Dosage Forms
Rampurna P Gullapalli1, Carolyn L Mazzitelli1
1Dart NeuroScience LLC, 12278 Scripps Summit Drive, San Diego, California 92131.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
|February 18, 2017
Summary
Capsules provide a versatile oral drug delivery option, accommodating various fill types. This review details the polymeric materials and manufacturing methods for creating advanced capsule shells.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
Background:
- Capsules offer an alternative to tablets for oral drug delivery, capable of containing solids, liquids, and semisolids.
- Capsule shells, crucial for drug delivery, are made from gelatin or non-gelatin polymers like hypromellose and starch.
- Formulation of capsule shells can be modified to control drug release within the gastrointestinal tract.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review polymeric film-forming materials used in capsule shell production.
- To discuss manufacturing technologies essential for producing capsule shells.
- To provide an in-depth understanding of capsule shell formulation and fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications on capsule shell materials and manufacturing.
- Analysis of polymeric film-forming agents and their properties.
- Examination of various capsule manufacturing techniques.
Main Results:
- Detailed overview of gelatin and non-gelatin polymers (hypromellose, starch) for capsule shells.
- Discussion of plasticizers and their role in shell properties.
- Exploration of technologies for producing hard and soft capsule shells.
- Insights into modifying capsule shells for targeted drug release.
Conclusions:
- Capsule shells are key to oral drug delivery, with diverse material and manufacturing options.
- Advancements in polymeric materials and technologies enable tailored drug release profiles.
- Understanding these components is vital for developing effective oral dosage forms.
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