Oral (Capsules)

Question 1

Types of gelatin capsules:

Answer 1

hard capsules (2 piece - short piece and longer piece)

soft capsules (1 piece)

Question 2

Raw materials of capsules: (4)

Answer 2

Gelatin
Water
Plasticisers
Colourants

Question 3

How is gelatin prepared?

Answer 3

by hydrolysis of collagen from connective tissues

from calf bones and pig skin

Question 4

Gelatin production processeS: (2)

Answer 4

Acid and Alkali process

Question 5

Advantages of gelatin (3)

Answer 5

non toxic and non irritiant

good film forming properties

soluble in biological fluids at body temp

Question 6

Disadvantages of gelatin (2)

Answer 6

gelatin allergy

not suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Question 7

What do colourants do?

Answer 7

Improve patient compliant and medicine identification

Question 8

2 main types of colourants:

Answer 8

water soluble dyes

insoluble pigments

Question 9

Storage of hard capsules?

Answer 9

moisture content between 13-16%

store at controlled temp and humidity so that its not too moist / too dry

Question 10

Fillings of hard capsules must be… (3)

Answer 10

unreactive with shell

not leak out

be free from large amounts of moisture

Question 11

Types of filling materials: (3)

Answer 11

dry solids
- powders, pellets, granules

semisolids
- pastes

non aqueous liquids

Question 12

Excipients used in powder filled capsules: (6)

Answer 12

diluents
lubricants
glidants
wetting agents
stabilisers
disintegrates

Question 13

How are hard capsules filled?

Answer 13

two halves of capsules are separated and an exact dose is spread inside, cap locked onto body

Question 14

Capsule filling machines (3)

Answer 14

hand operated
semi automatic
fully automatic

Question 15

Advantages of soft capsules (3)

Answer 15

improves drug absorption - drug is already in solution

convenient, easy to use - no unpleasant taste

dose uniformity and precision

Question 16

Types of soft gels (3)

Answer 16

oral soft gel (most common) e.g. cod liver oil

chewable

twist off/ suckable/ meltable

Question 17

Soft gel composition: gelatine, plasticisers, water and additional.

What do the plasticisers do?

Answer 17

make the shell soft and pliable

Question 18

Types of softgel fill matrices:

Answer 18

lipophilic liquids

hydrophilic liquids

self-emulsifying systems
- contains an oil and a surfactant which emulsify to form droplets when in contact with GI fluid - higher SA for diffusion of drug