CAPSULES AND IT’ S TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW

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.