Chloe Zhang
The plastic-like casing on pills is known as encapsulation, a range of dosage forms used to enclose medicines in a stable shell. Capsules are typically made from gelatin, a colourless and flavourless food ingredient derived from animal body parts, or plant-based alternatives such as starch, cellulose, and pullulan. The shell of a capsule can be hard or soft, with soft gels being effective delivery systems for oral drugs, especially poorly soluble drugs. The casing on pills is designed to protect the drug from the harsh stomach environment, which could damage or destroy them before they get a chance to work.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Plastic-like |
| Composition | Gelatin (animal-derived), HPMC, Pullulan (plant-derived) |
| Properties | Translucent, colourless, flavourless, brittle when dry, gummy when moist |
| Additives | Glycerin, preservatives, plasticizers, colouring agents, disintegrants, lubricants, surface treatment |
| Variants | Hard-shelled, soft-shelled |
| Usage | Contain powder or jelly, to be swallowed whole |
| Function | Enclose medicines in a stable shell, allowing oral administration or use as suppositories |
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What You'll Learn
Capsules are made from biodegradable material, not plastic
The casing of pharmaceutical capsules may appear to be made of plastic, but it is not. Capsules are made from biodegradable material extracted from animals and plants. The majority of capsules are manufactured from gelatin, a colourless, flavourless, and edible food ingredient commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. Gelatin capsules are brittle when dry and gummy when moist.
Other raw materials used to make capsules include HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or hypromellose) and Pullulan, which are derived from plants and are therefore suitable for vegetarians. Soft capsules called VegaGels are also 100% plant-based, containing only starch and lipids with no synthetic additives. Potato starch is the main ingredient in these capsules, which can be shaped, filled, and packaged like gelatin capsules.
Capsules can also be made from modified forms of starch and cellulose. Starch-based capsules have the advantage of superior finishing and can be easily coated for the preparation of modified-release forms. They are also more resistant to mechanical deformation and more amenable to the coating process.
Plasticizers such as glycerin and sorbitol are added to gelatin capsules to create a soft shell, decrease hardness, and allow the retention of moisture. However, despite the use of these plasticizers, the capsules themselves are not made of plastic.
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Gelatin capsules are made from animal-derived materials
Although capsules appear to be made of plastic, they are not. The casing of pharmaceutical capsules is made of gelatin, a translucent, colourless, and flavourless food ingredient. Gelatin is commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts, such as animal skin or bones. It is brittle when dry and gummy when moist.
Gelatin capsules are typically of animal origin, with capsules shells being made from aqueous solutions of gelling agents, such as animal protein (mainly gelatin). The collagen of mammals is preferred for gelatin shells compared to the collagen of lower animals due to its higher stability. The stability of gelatin is highest between a pH of 4 and 7, and a moisture content of 12%–16% is necessary for maintaining the integrity of a hard gelatin capsule shell.
To create soft gelatin shells, plasticizers, especially non-volatile plasticizers, are used to reduce the interaction between protein molecules and allow gelatin to retain moisture. Glycerol and sorbitol are commonly used plasticizers, with glycerol being preferred over sorbitol due to sorbitol's association with blooming (crystallization) when stored at low humid temperatures.
While gelatin capsules are predominantly made from animal-derived materials, vegetarian alternatives do exist. HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or Hypromellose) and Pullulan are plant-derived alternatives to gelatin. VegaGels, for example, are 100% plant-based capsules containing only starch and lipids with no synthetic additives.
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Vegetarian capsules are made from plant-based materials
While capsules may appear to be made of plastic, they are not. Capsule shells are made of biodegradable material extracted from animals and plants.
Vegetarian capsules are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the consumption of gelatin from certain animals may be forbidden by religious or cultural customs. For example, Jewish kosher and Islamic halal practices require gelatin from sources other than pigs. Secondly, vegetarian capsules offer an option for those who choose not to consume gelatin made from animals.
In addition to HPMC and Pullulan, other plant-based materials can be used as alternatives to gelatin in capsules. These include seaweed extracts like agar and carrageenan, as well as tapioca starch, pectin, and konjac. However, some of these materials may not be suitable for forming into capsules.
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Capsules are used to enclose medicines in a stable shell
Capsules are a crucial component of day-to-day health management and are used to enclose medicines in a relatively stable shell. This shell, often referred to as a capsule shell, is not made of plastic, despite its plastic-like appearance. Instead, it is made from biodegradable material extracted from animals and plants. The two main types of capsules are hard-shelled and soft-shelled.
Hard-shelled capsules are typically used to contain dry, powdered ingredients or miniature pellets. They are made in two halves: a smaller-diameter "body" that is filled and then sealed with a larger-diameter "cap". Soft-shelled capsules, on the other hand, are primarily used for oils and active ingredients dissolved or suspended in oil. Both types of capsules are made from aqueous solutions of gelling agents.
The most common material used for capsule shells is gelatin, which is derived from animal collagen. Gelatin capsules have a plastic-like appearance and can be made using individual iron moulds, filling the capsules individually with a medicine dropper. However, gelatin is not suitable for vegetarian consumers, so alternative materials are used to create vegetarian capsules.
Vegetarian capsules are typically made from plant-based materials such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), pullulan, or starch. These capsules are derived from plants and do not contain any animal-based products. Starch-based capsules have the advantage of superior finishing and can be easily coated for modified release forms. They also have less water migration and subsequent drug crystallization compared to gelatin capsules.
In addition to the base material, other ingredients are added to maintain the structure of the capsule and ensure effective drug delivery. These ingredients may include plasticizers such as glycerin or sorbitol, colouring agents, preservatives, disintegrants, lubricants, and surface treatments.
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Capsules are easier to swallow than tablets
Capsules are generally easier to swallow than tablets. This is partly because of their shape, but also because capsules are designed to float at the back of the mouth, making them easier to swallow. The physical properties of the coating on a soft-gel capsule cause this floating effect when taken with water.
The shell of a capsule is made from a gelatine base, which is a translucent, colourless, and flavourless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. Gelatine is a form of plastic, but it is not the same as the synthetic plastic that people usually think of. Gelatine is a natural product, usually derived from petroleum, but it can also be made from other vegetable or animal-based sources.
There are other ingredients in gelatine capsules, such as glycerin, which is added to create a soft shell. There are also usually preservatives included to prevent fungal growth. Fish gelatine capsules are often used for marine supplements like fish oil. There are also plant-based capsules, which are made from starch and lipids, with no synthetic additives. These are usually made from potato starch, and can be shaped, filled, and packaged just like gelatine capsules.
There are some drawbacks to capsules. They cannot be cut in half like tablets, and they have fewer options for size and shape. They are also more expensive and have a shorter shelf life. However, capsules are generally more popular with consumers, who view them as the most efficient method of taking medication. This is partly because the drug in a capsule enters the bloodstream immediately, whereas tablets are coated with sugar or similar substances, which means the drug is released more slowly.
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Frequently asked questions
The casing on pills is not made of plastic, but rather a biodegradable material extracted from animals and plants. The most common material used is gelatin, which is derived from animal collagen. Other materials used include HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or Hypromellose) and Pullulan, which are plant-derived.
Pills are encased in gelatin/biodegradable material to create a stable shell that can be taken orally or used as suppositories. The shell protects the medicine from stomach acids and provides a means of managing medication within the body.
Yes, there are alternatives to gelatin casings. Starch-based capsules, for example, have the advantage of superior finishing and can be easily coated for modified release forms. There are also 100% plant-based capsules called VegaGels, which contain only starch and lipids with no synthetic additives.
Hard-shelled capsules contain dry, powdered ingredients or miniature pellets, while soft-shelled capsules are primarily used for oils and active ingredients dissolved or suspended in oil. Softgels are also more suitable for potent drugs and can increase the solubility or permeability of the drug across body membranes.
