Hard Gelatin Capsules
Hard-shelled capsules, which are typically made using gelatin and contain dry, powdered ingredients or miniature pellets made by e.g. processes of extrusion or spheronisation. These are made in two halves: a lower-diameter "body" that is filled and then sealed using a higher-diameter "cap".
James Murdock of London patented the two-piece telescoping gelatin capsule in 1847. The capsules are made in two parts by dipping metal pins in the gelling agent solution. The capsules are supplied as closed units to the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Before use, the two halves are separated, the capsule is filled with powder or more normally pellets made by the process of Extrusion & Spheronization (either by placing a compressed slug of powder into one half of the capsule, or by filling one half of the capsule with loose powder) and the other half of the capsule is pressed on. With the compressed slug method, weight varies less between capsules. However, the machinery required to manufacture them is more complex.
Pellets
Ready to Fill (RTF) Pellets has developed a strong / customised market for itself. One of the strong point it has proven to be more stable and cost effective than active pharma ingredients. The RTF pellets are available in Slow Release (SR), Controlled Release (CR) and Timely Release (TR) forms.
Pellets are small free flowing, spherical dosage forms that are prepared by the agglomeration of five powder mixture of drugs and excipients. The diameter of the pellets ranges from 0.5mm to 1.5mm that can be easily coated with suitable coating material.
Pelletization of solid oral dosage forms is commonly done either to deliver the drug at a particular site within the gastrointestinal tract or to modify the release & action of drugs.
Pelletization improves the flow properties of the formulation. In case of capsule filling, enhanced flow properties of the pellets helps to provide uniform filling with reproducible filled weight of the capsules.
HPMC/Vegetable Capsules
HPMC Capsules offers attractive alternate to gelatin capsules because of its vegetable source. The strict regulations regarding the use of animal derived gelatine requiring the absence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)/ Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) have encouraged the search of gelation replacement. As a result the first vegetable capsules with the trademark "Vegicaps" made by HPMC were produced in 1989 by G S Technologies Inc. (now R.P. Scherer Technologies ownership).
Hydroxy-Propyle-Methyl-Cellulose (HPMC) capsules are made of plant-derived materials and do not contains components of animal origin, eliminating problems with religious or vegetarian dietary restrictions. HPMC capsules have a naturally low moisture content, maintain mechanical integrity under extremely low-moisture conditions and are, therefore, ideally suited for use with formulations containing water-unstable drugs.
Pearl Capsules
We provide metallic pearl finish capsules in all sizes. These capsules gives unique look for customer and it differentiate the products.
