GELITA® Hard Capsule Gelatin: Optimized Performance
GELITA® Hard Capsule Gelatin ensures optimal setting and enhanced gliding properties, fast machinability and
excellent dissolution. The capsule shell can control the release of active substances and increase bioavailability.
Typically, the gelatin has a gel strength of 200 to 280g Bloom.
What Are Hard Capsules?
Hard capsules consist of two cylindrical shells. The upper part, called the “cap”, has a slightly larger diameter than the lower part, called the “body”. Perfectly fitting together, they form a hermetically closed unit. They are produced as empty shells and then filled with the active ingredient by the brand owner or a contract manufacturer.
Hard gelatin capsules can be adapted to the requirements of the ingredients and to the specifications of the manufacturers in shape, color and size. The degree of hardness or flexibility can also be precisely adjusted. Their main ingredient, gelatin, is a pure, natural protein that is neutral in taste, gluten-free, allergen-free and GMO-free.
Why Are Gelatin Hard Capsules Preferred Over Other Formats?
Gelatin hard capsules offer many advantages. Gelatin has been used for centuries in a variety of foods and for a long time in pharmaceutical applications. Gelatin capsules offer ideal protection of the filling from oxygen, light, moisture and dust. They are easy to swallow and dissolve at body temperature. Different capsule sizes and colors make it easier for consumers to distinguish their respective medications.
Manufacturers benefit from fast processing and short setting times, and easy filling. Leading suppliers of high-quality gelatins also offer variants with halal and kosher certifications. This enables hard capsules manufacturers to fulfil diverse consumer preferences and offer always the right capsule for different products, brands and target groups.
FAQ
The primary gelatin types used in capsules are typically from bovine or porcine raw materials. Depending on the fill, formulation and target market group, manufacturers have flexibility in the raw material type, with some opting for a combination of porcine and bovine options. Bovine bone gelatin, for example, contributes to capsule firmness. Porcine, on the other hand, offers plasticity and a non-opaque finish.
Gelatin hard capsules are ideal for powdered or granulated fillings. Pharmaceutical ingredients or bioactive ingredients can be easily filled into two-piece hard capsules and allow precise dosage.
Under normal conditions, a standard gelatin hard capsule dissolves in the stomach within 20 to 30 minutes after swallowing. Different types of gelatin or additional processing steps can affect the time it takes for the active ingredients to be released.
Empty capsules are available in a variety of sizes. There is no standard size for hard gelatin capsules, but most capsules are size 0 or 1. Capsules are numbered according to their capacity, with the most common sizes ranging from 0.13 ml (size 5) to 1.37 ml (size 000) in approximately eight size increments.
Firstly, the gelatin is dissolved in hot water and colorants are added, for example. Then it is moulded: On a machine, stainless steel pins are dipped into the warm gelatin solution and then pulled out. The gel mass forms a cap-shaped film over the pins. Their size corresponds to the size of the capsule shells – the pins for the cap and the body differ accordingly. Once the gelatin layer on the pins has set, the capsule shells are gently dried in the drying tunnel until they are firm and stable. During this process, air flow, temperature and humidity are precisely controlled. The capsule halves are then stripped from the pins, precisely cut and joined together with the counterpart and can be printed before packaging and shipping.
Tablets are compressed powders, while pill is a generic term for solid oral dosage forms of medicines or food supplements. In gelatin hard capsules, the active ingredients are inside the shell and are thus encapsulated and protected. Thanks to the smoother surface compared to tablets, capsules are also easier to swallow and are therefore more popular with many consumers.
Gelatin is a foodstuff and not an additive. The gelatin in capsules is non-allergenic and safe for consumption. It is a pure protein, easily digestible and free from side effects.
Gelatin hard capsules are made from animal-derived raw materials and are therefore neither vegan nor vegetarian. Gelatin capsules are considered the global standard as they are of natural origin, well-tolerated, and safe. A far less commonly used vegan alternative are capsules made from HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). However, HPMC is produced through a chemical modification of cellulose, usually derived from cotton or wood. During this manufacturing process, chemicals such as propylene oxide and methyl chloride are used, which may be of potential concern.
