Capsules are gelatin containers that
contain medicines. These are common pharmaceutical dosage forms those are easy
to manufacture. Capsules do not require any complex formulation to manufacture.
Capsules are of following two types:
1. Soft gelatin capsules
2. Hard gelatin capsules
1. Soft Gelatin Capsules: These are also called as softgel. Soft gelatin capsules are
manufactured as single piece capsule shell. These capsules are suitable for
non-aqueous solution such as oils. Active ingredients are dissolved or
suspended in oily base. Manufacturing and filling of soft gelatin capsules are
done same time in same machine. Content of capsule is filled during the
manufacturing the shell. These capsules melt within the minutes in the stomach
releasing the content having within it. These contain 5% to 14% of moisture
content. Sometimes soft gelatin capsules are printed with brand names or
strengths.
2. Hard Gelatin Capsules: Hard gelatin capsules consist of two parts, one is body and
other is cap of capsules. These are supplies in closed condition but without
locking. Generally body and cap has different colors. Hard gelatin capsules are
dry in nature and active ingredients are filled in powder form in the hard
gelatin capsules. Body part of capsule is filled, closed by cap and locked by
pressing genteelly by the capsule machines or manually. These are disintegrated
in 3 minutes and release the content. These are hygroscopic in nature and
contain 12% -16% of moisture. Sometimes it is required to release the drug at
any target then hard gelatin capsules are filled with target release pellets.
In some cases tablets are also filled in the gelatin capsules.
Gelatin capsule shells have great
potential of microbial growth because of its nutritional quality. So it is
important to analyze the gelatin shells for microbial contamination. Gelatin is
manufactured from the animal bones. Vegetarian capsules are manufactured from
hypromellose – a polymer of cellulose.
Defects of capsules in filling with their picture
Defects of capsules in filling with their picture
Capsules are having different sizes
according to the requirements. Capacity of capsules varies from 0.13 ml to 28
ml. Following is list of the different sizes of capsule shells.
