Page 52 - Pharmaceutics III_ 02-06-01304_Fall 2025_ Pharm D_Electronic book
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o Caps placed and pressed to close.
o Used in small-scale or R&D.
2. Semi-automatic filling machine:
o Capsules oriented, opened, filled, and closed automatically.
o Output: 25,000–50,000 capsules/hour.
3. Automatic filling machine:
o High-speed production up to 150,000 capsules/hour.
o Accurate filling, minimal human intervention.
Capsule Filling by Weight and Volume:
• Powder is metered by volume (dosator type) or tamping pin method.
• For low-dose potent drugs → powder preblended with diluent.
Capsule Sealing:
Purpose: to prevent tampering and leakage.
Methods:
1. Banding: applying gelatin band around joint.
2. Liquid sealing: thermal welding or application of hydroalcoholic gelatin.
3. Locking design: special interlocking grooves in cap and body.
Special Types of Hard Gelatin Capsules:
1. Enteric-coated capsules: resist stomach acid, dissolve in intestine.
o Coated with cellulose acetate phthalate, HPMCP, or Eudragit L.
2. Sustained release capsules: contain pellets with different polymer coatings controlling
release rate.
3. Modified release capsules: combination of immediate and controlled release pellets.
4. Capsule-in-capsule: separation of incompatible ingredients.
Soft Gelatin Capsules (Softgels):
Definition:
Soft, one-piece hermetically sealed capsules containing a liquid or semisolid fill enclosed in a
flexible gelatin shell.
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