Hard Gelatin Capsules Uses, Manufacturing and Formulation

Gelatin Capsules:

Although gelatin capsules are simple to produce, gelatin can facilitate the growth of bacteria. It is therefore important that gelatin capsules are inspected and analyzed to check for any signs of bacterial growth. Another aspect that must be considered is that gelatin is produced from animal bones and are therefore unsuitable for strict vegetarians. To overcome this, there are vegetarian forms available made from a form of cellulose called hypromellose.

Gelatin capsules vary in size depending on the requirement. They range from between 0.13 mL to 28 mL capacity. Gelatin capsules are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as containers for drugs. Not only are they easy to manufacture, but they do not require complex formulations to produce unlike some other drug containers

Hard Gelatin Capsules:

Hard gelatin capsules, unlike the soft form, are made of two parts, the body and the cap, each of a different color. This form of capsule holds dry ingredients in powder form. The body is first filled with the mix of active ingredients and any excipients used and then closed with the cap using either a manual or automatic press machine.

Once ingested, the hard capsules disintegrate within three minutes and quickly release the drug inside. Hard gelatin capsules are also hygroscopic and contain a higher water content than soft capsules at around 12-15%. Some drugs need to be released at certain points in the body, and therefore the capsule must release the drug at an earlier time. To enable this, the capsule can be filled with target release pellets. As well as powdered ingredients, the gelatin capsules can also be used to cover premade tablets.

Manufacturing Equipment:

The process of encapsulation of hard gelatin capsules can be done on manual, semi-automatic, and automatic capsule filling machines. They are filled at the same time as they are produced and sealed on the rotary die of a fully automatic machine. Capsule fill weight is a critical attribute in encapsulation and various real-time fill weight monitoring techniques such as near-infrared) and vibrational spectroscopy is used. It is prepared by hydrolysis of collagen obtained from animal connective tissue, bone, and pork skin.

• TYPE A (Acid hydrolysis of pork skin)
• TYPE B (Base hydrolysis of bones)

There are various steps that are involved in manufacturing hard gelatin capsules, they are described below:

Steps:

• Dipping
• Spinning
• Drying
• Stripping
• Trimming
• Polishing

What Can Be Filled In Capsules:

• Tablets
• Powder
• Granule

Ingredients Added To Make Hard Capsule:

• Preservative
• Sugar
• Plasticizer
• Water
• Sulfur dioxide

Excipients That Are Added:

• Diluents
• Fillers
• Lubricant
• Glidant
• Wetting agent
• Disintegrants

The most important good thing about choosing herbal supplements in Gelatin Capsules is that they are available at a reasonable price than vegetable capsules. It is one of the most common reasons that a buyer considers in mind when purchasing between the two forms of capsules. There are other health benefits of preferring these capsules, which contains –

Advantages:

1. Not require much effort to swallow
2. Help taste and odor masking supplements
3. Easily digest
4. Available in different sizes

Halal gelatin is one of the largest manufacturer of gelatin in Pakistan. They supply gelatin not only in Pakistan but around the globe like Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, and Germany.

If you are looking for good quality halal gelatin options, then we recommend visiting our Products Page.

Written By

Itechx