capsules

• Capsules are the solid dosage form in which drug substance are enclosed within hard or soft soluble shells, formed from gelatin.
• Capsules are of two types: Hard Gelatin Capsule and Soft Gelatin Capsule.
• Today, capsules may be classified as either hard or soft, depending on the nature of the shell.
• Most capsules of both types are intended to be swallowed whole.
• Some soft gelatin capsules are intended for rectal or vaginal insertion as suppositories.
• Gelatin is a heterogeneous product derived from hydrolytic extraction of animal collagen.
• Weight variation is a quality control test for capsules.
• Moisture permeation test is a quality control test for capsules.
• Capsules are strip packaged which provide sanitary handling of medicines, ease in counting and identification.
• Disintegration test is a quality control test for capsules.
• Capsules undergo certain tests known as quality control tests to test the quality of the finished product.
• Quality control of capsules is necessary whether they are produced on a small scale or large scale.
• Dissolution test is a quality control test for capsules.
• Content uniformity is a quality control test for capsules.
• Stability testing is a quality control test for capsules.
• Types of gelatin include Type A, which is manufactured from pork skin, and Type B, which is manufactured from animal bones.
• Advantages of capsules include being tasteless, odourless and can easily be administered.
• Capsules can combine powders, we can use.
• Capsules are attractive in appearance.
• The drugs having un-pleasant odour and taste are enclosed in a tasteless shell.
• Capsules can be filled quickly and conveniently.
• Physician can change the dose and combination of drug according to patient requirement.
• Capsules are economical.
• Capsules are easy to handle and carry.
• Disadvantages of capsules include being hygroscopic drugs not suitable for filling into capsules, because they absorb water present in capsule shell makes shell very brittle and ultimately lead to crumble into pieces.
• The concentrated solutions which require previous dilution are unsuitable for capsules because if administered as such lead to stomach irritation.
• The hard gelatin capsule consists of two pieces in the form of cylinders closed at one end, the shorter piece is called the cap, which fits over the open end of the longer piece called body.
• Hard gelatin capsules are also known as dry-filled capsules or two piece capsules.
• Hard gelatin capsules consist of two parts known as capsule body (longer part) and the capsule cap (the shorter part).
• Advantages of soft gelatin capsules include being easy to swallow, tasteless, available in different variety of shapes, colours, and sizes, unit dose delivery system and tamper proof, accuracy and uniformity of dosage, capsule to capsule, and permit liquid medications to become easily portable and increases the bioavailability.
• Most capsules of either type are intended to be swallowed whole.
• An active ingredient may be incorporated in the outer shell, inner fill or both.
• Disadvantages of soft gelatin capsules include needing special type of equipments for the manufacture, not suitable to formulate water soluble compounds, not suitable to formulate highly efflorescent drugs as they may cause leaking, or softening of shell, and not suitable to formulate deliquescent drugs as they may cause hardening of shell or production of brittle capsules.
• Soft gelatin shell capsules can be of different shapes and sizes, including round, oval, oblong, and tubular.
• Applications of soft gelatin shell capsules include use as an oral dosage form for human or veterinary use, as a suppository dosage form for rectal or vaginal use, and as a speciality package in the tube shape, for human or veterinary use of topical, ophthalmic, otic (ear) preparations.
• Soft gelatin capsules, also called as softgels, are one piece solid capsule, hermetically sealed, soft gelatin shells (outer shell) containing a liquid, a suspension, or a semi-solid (inner fill).
• Some soft gelatin capsules are intended for rectal or vaginal insertion as suppositories.
• Soft gelatin capsules are available in different root shapes such as round, oval, oblong, and tubular.
• Most capsules product manufactured today are of the hard gelatin type.
• In the cosmetic industry, these can be formulated as a speciality package for breath fresheners, perfumes, bath oils, various skin creams etc.