Hard capsules

Capsilgels are transparent hard capsules containing silicagel. The capsule is made from hard gelatine. It consists of two cylindrical parts, a body with a hemispherical... 

Gelatin has long been used as a food ingredient (e.g., gelling and foaming agent), in the preparation of pharmaceutical products (e.g., soft and hard capsule, microspheres), in the... 

Y Hostetler, JQ Bellard. Capsules I. Hard capsules. In L Lachman, H A Lieberman, J L Kanig, eds. The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy, 2nd ed. Philadelphia Lea and Febiger, 1976, pp 389-404. 

K Ridgeway, Ed. Hard Capsules. Development and Technology. London The Pharmaceutical Press, 1987. 

D Francois, BE Jones. Making the hard capsule with the soft center. Manuf Chem Aerosol News 50(3) 37, 38, 41, 1979. 

The Hard Capsule With the Soft Center, Elanco Products Co., Div. Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN. 

Hard capsules are used for powdered drugs e.g. capsules ampicillin, tetracycline. In hard capsules, certain sustained released substance, which gradually release the drug in the respiratory tract (e.g. cap. theophylline). 

Capsule The absorption of capsule is also dependent on their type e.g. hard capsule and soft capsule. The hard capsule dissolves much more readily in gastrointestinal tract as compared to soft capsules. 

Podczeck F. Powder, granule and pellet properties for filling of two-piece hard capsules, Chapter 5 in Pharmaceutical Capsules, 2nd ed. In Podczeck F, Jones BE, eds. London Pharmaceutical Press, 2004, 108. 

Jones, R. (1987). Gelatin structure and manufacture. In Hard Capsules Development and Technology, K. Ridgeway, ed. Pharmaceutical Press, London, 13-30, 31 —48. 

Lombardin, P, Seiller, M., Leverd, E., Goutay, E., Bougaret, J., and Grossiord (2000) Study of thixotropic bases for the Ming of hard capsulS P Pharm. Sci., 10 429-437. 

Soft gelatin capsules are hermetically sealed one-piece capsules containing a liquid or a semisolid fill. Like liquid-filled hard capsules, although the drug is presented in a liquid formulation, it is enclosed within a solid, thus combining the attributes... 

CNS more slowly than their more lipophilic cousins. Since temazepam is much more quickly absorbed from a soft gelatin liquid-containing capsule than from a hard capsule or tablet, it is the preferred form for both hypnotic use (Table 2) and recreational use (and for this reason is restricted in some countries). Kinetic differences between drugs and between formulations partially explain why comparing equipotent doses of benzodiazepines is difficult. 

SAQUINAVIR (INVIRASE HARD CAPSULES) GRAPEFRUIT JUICE Possibly t efficacy Possibly t bioavailability 1 presystemic metabolism. Constituents of grapefruit irreversibly inhibit intestinal cytochrome CYP3A4. Transport via P-gp and MRP-2 efflux pumps is also inhibited No dose adjustment is advised. Oral bioavailability is very low and is enhanced beneficially with grapefruit juice or grapefruit. Soft gel capsules have greater bioavailability so may interact to a lesser degree... 

Hard capsules are made in two sections, cap and body, which are then filled. Soft-gelatin capsules have their shell formed and filled in succession... 

Table 1 Formulation types for filling into hard capsules...

Pharmacopeias require that hard capsules be tested in the same apparatus as tablets even though they have very different physical properties. Filled capsules contain entrapped air, and most formulations will float on water. Devices are required to ensure that they sink, and these can influence the results obtained. Gelatin and hypromellose are adhesive materials and tend to block wire meshes that form part of the standard equipment. The way in which capsules disintegrate and dissolve is dependent upon several factors such... 

Nagata, S. Advantages to HPMC capsules a new generation s hard capsule. Drug Del. Tech. 2002, 2 (2), 34-39. 

Jones, B.E. The filling of powers into two-piece hard capsules. Int. J. Pharm. 2002, 227, 5-26. 

Chiwele, I. Jones, B.E. Podczeck, F. The shell dissolution of various empty hard capsules. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2000, 48, 951-956. 

Table 1 lists some of the examples where dissolution problems have been reported with hard gelatin capsules. Fig. 7 depicts the behavior in one such case. Hard capsules normally contain 13%-16% water, which acts as a plasticizer and imparts flexibility. The moisture variations in the range of 12%-18% do not seriously impair the shell structure, however, below 12%, the shells beeome brittle and get easily ruptured. The capsules beeome moist, soft, and distorted when... 

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