Pharmaceutical


Gelatine also plays an important part in the preparation of oil-based vitamin (A+E) preparations of long shelf life and easy applicability, both for human and animal consumption. Finely distributed vitamin A- or E oil drops in aqueous gelatine solution can be converted, by means of appropriate solidification and drying procedures, into a free-flowing powder; this can then be dissolved in aqueous solution but remains highly dispersed. The coating of vitamins with such special gelatines enables them to be protected from light and oxygen during long-term storage. In addition, the coatings can be prepared in such a way that they dissolve in both warm and cold solutions, as e.g. in the case of effervescent vitamin tablets.


Vitamin Tablets

Gelatine sponges play an important role in dental and surgical applications. These are prepared by foaming a gelatine solution and subsequently drying and hardening. Such blood-staunching gelatine sponges are completely resorbed in the course of wound healing. GELITA is one of the leading manufacturers of such gelatine sponges and supplies numerous domestic and foreign companies who then sterilize, pack and market the finished product.


In emergency medicine, blood replacement solutions based on gelatine are frequently used in cases where substantial blood losses have been incurred. Special gelatine quality is used for such plasma expanders; the pharmaceutical companies involved then subject it to heat or enzyme treatment and possibly modify it chemically before sterile-packaging it.


Plasma Expander

Gelatine is also used for a number of other medical and technological applications: in the manufacture of skin-compatible zinc-treated bandages, as a granulate-, tabletting- or sugar-coated tablet excipient or as a thickener for a number of drug dosage forms.