What Are Medicine Capsules Made Of
Have you ever thought about the tiny capsules holding your daily medications? What are medicine capsules made of, and how do they deliver essential medicines?In this blog post, we'll look at the materials used to make medicine capsules.
What Are Medicine Capsules?
A medicine capsule is a dosage form made up of a shell, usually made from gelatin. The shell holds the drug in powder or granule form. Capsules are taken orally or rectally. They're good for drugs that can't be made into tablets or that need to be taken with liquid.Capsules have some advantages over tablets. They're easier to swallow and taste better. Capsules usually dissolve and release their contents more quickly than tablets.
What Are Medicine Capsules Made From?
The main ingredients in medicine capsules are either gelatin-based or non-gelatin-based materials.
Gelatin-Based Capsules
Traditional capsules mostly contain gelatin, a protein derived from animal sources like beef, pork, or fish. Gelatin is obtained through a hydrolysis process that breaks down collagen. Collagen is a structural protein found in these animal tissues. Gelatin-based capsules offer good film-forming properties, rapid dissolution, and are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Plant-Based Capsules
Hypromellose (HPMC) capsules - HPMC capsules are made from cellulose, a plant-based polymer. They're popular because they're vegan-friendly, easy to swallow, and stable
Pullulan capsules - Made from starch derived from sources like corn, locust bean gum, and xanthan gum, pullulan capsules offer excellent oxygen barrier properties, making them a great choice for sensitive ingredients.
Carrageenan capsules - Carrageenan capsules are a natural, plant-based alternative to gelatin. They're derived from seaweed. However, they may take longer to break down than other options.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) capsules - PVA capsules are synthetic polymers that can encapsulate hydrophilic or insoluble drugs and may enhance drug bioavailability.
Starch capsules - Starch capsules come from plant-based starches like tapioca or potato. They're stable and can encapsulate a variety of ingredients, including essential oils.
Medicine capsules are used to deliver drugs. They dissolve in the body and release their drug content, providing therapeutic benefits. Understanding the different types of capsules and how they work helps us appreciate these essential pharmaceutical tools.
If you have any questions about capsules or their ingredients, our are happy to answer.