Capsules Flashcards
What are capsules?
They are solid preparations with hard or soft shells of various shapes and capacities which usually contain a single dose of active substance
What are the advantages of capsules?
They are convenient and safe
They have chemical and physical stability
They provide accurate drug dosing
Low cost of manufacturing, packaging, shipping
Difficult to tamper with
What are capsules made of?
Gelatine, bovine, porcine, fish, alternate polymers, HPMC
What is the most commonly used capsule material?
Gelatine
What is gelatine?
A self gelling agent which is a good film-forming polymer
What is HPMC and what is it made of?
Hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose. It’s made from cellulose (from trees) which is modified to make a film-forming material
Why is HPMC used?
It is a strong film-forming polymer and is useful when gelatine isn’t suitable for example for ethical or cultural reasons and when moisture sensitive formulations/hygroscopic formulations are used
What are the advantages of hard capsules?
They are made up of combinations of single active with various coatings: one extended release capsule contains 4 small tablets with a varying degree of coating OR combinations of multiple actives: e.g. combines vitamin B complex pellets and diclofenac tablets in a capsule
What do hard capsules contain?
Fill material:
Powders most common, pellets (sustained release, enteric coated), semi-solids (fats, oils, waxes, emulsions and micro-emulsions)
What are the advantages of capsules?
Faster time to market because capsule formulations need fewer processing steps, ideal for toxic or unstable drug compounds, well suited for poorly soluble compounds, improved patient compliance
What are the FORMULATION advantages of capsules?
Require fewer excipients, versatile (can be filled with powder, granules, pellets etc), reduces stability problems, good for high potency drugs (reduces worker exposure), minimises airborne dust levels, lowers cross contamination risk
Why do capsules offer improved stability with sensitive drug compounds?
Encapsulation does not create high heat and pressure so heat-sensitive drugs can be more readily formulated. Capsule walls can be made opaque, and therefore more amenable to light-sensitive compounds. As there is less need for excipients, drugs that are sensitive to or highly reactive can be more readily formulated
What are the advantages of multi-particulate formulations?
They can disperse freely in the GI tract, proving more uniform distribution of drug into blood stream, they reduce inter and intra patient variability, maximise absorption, minimise side effects
What is LEMS technology?
This is liquid encapsulation by micro-spray sealing
Why are capsules preferred by patients?
They mask the taste and odour of the drug
Why do capsules improve patient compliance?
Colour can impact proper dosing, avoids mix ups of elderly taking multiple medications, aid in identification of drugs
Why do capsules help build recognisable brands?
They offer 3 key design elements: use of 2 colours enhance overall brand identity, printing of logo, high gloss surface
What are soft capsules?
They are formed, filled and sealed in one single operation, the result is a one-piece hermetically sealed gelatine capsule with a long shelf-life. Most preferred and advanced oral dosage form
What are the benefits of soft capsules?
Excellent dosage precision and uniformity, enhanced stability and long shelf life (minimal degrading of active ingredients, minimal influence of light and oxygen), unique shape, easy to swallow, neutral flavour
How are soft capsules manufactured?
By using a rotary die method, This method causes a seam
What is in the softgel matrix of soft capsules?
Lipophilic liquid/oils, hydrophilic liquids, self-emulsifying oils, suspensions
What are the technical advantages of vegicaps?
Improves bioavailability of BCS class II and IV compounds, enhances dose uniformity of low dose (potent) compounds, encapsulation of higher temperature fill formulations, higher pH fill formulations
What are the patient benefits of vegicaps?
All natural, GMO free, plant based shell which is free of animal derivatives, gluten and sugar free, easy to swallow, odour and taste free
