Capsule (pharmacy) 3053322 224459660 2008-07-08T22:54:15Z Kyle the bot 3115531 robot Modifying: [[ar:حبة دوائية]] In the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, '''encapsulation''' refers to a range of techniques used to enclose medicines in a relatively stable shell known as a '''capsule''', allowing them to, for example, be taken orally or be used as [[suppositories]]. The two main types of capsules are hard-shelled capsules, which are normally used for dry, powdered ingredients, and soft-shelled capsules, primarily used for oils and for active ingredients that are dissolved or suspended in [[oil]]. Both of these classes of capsule are made both from [[gelatine]] and from [[plant]]-based gelling substances like [[carrageenan]]s and modified forms of [[starch]] and [[cellulose]]. Since their inception, capsules have been viewed by consumers as the most efficient method of taking medication. For this reason, producers of drugs such as OTC analgesics wanting to emphasize the strength of their product developed the "caplet" or "capsule-shaped tablet" in order to tie this positive association to more efficiently-produced tablet pills. After the [[Tylenol Crisis of 1982|1982 Tylenol tampering murders]], capsules experienced a minor fall in popularity as tablets were seen as more resistant to tampering.<ref>{{cite news | last =Sims | first =Calvin | title = Despite "mystique" of capsules, many drugs work in other forms | work =New York Times | date =1986-02-15 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9A0DE1D71F3BF936A25751C0A960948260 }}</ref> ==Soft gel encapsulation== [[Image:Codliveroilcapsules.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cod liver oil]] soft gel capsules.]] In [[1834]], Mothes and Dublanc were granted a patent for a method to produce a single-piece [[gelatin]] capsule that was sealed with a drop of gelatin solution. They used individual iron moulds for their process, filling the capsules individually with a medicine dropper. Later on, methods were developed that used sets of plates with pockets to form the capsules. Although some companies still use this method, the equipment is not produced commercially any more. All modern soft-gel encapsulation uses variations of a process developed by [[Robert Pauli Scherer|R.P. Scherer]] in [[1933]]. His innovation was to use a rotary die to produce the capsules, with the filling taking place by [[Blow molding#Injection Blow Molding|blow molding]]. This method reduced wastage, and was the first process to yield capsules with highly repeatable dosage. In [[1949]], the Lederle Laboratories division of the [[American Cyanamid|American Cyanamid Company]] developed the "Accogel" process, allowing powders to be accurately filled into soft gelatin capsules. ==Two-part gel capsules== [[Image:Kapseln.JPG|thumb|Two-part hard gelatin capsules]]James Murdock patented the two-part telescoping gelatin capsule in [[London]] in [[1847]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = History of dosage forms and basic preparations | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology | volume = 7 | pages = 304-306 | publisher = Informa Health Care | date = 1998 | id = ISBN 0824728068}}</ref>. Basically, the capsules are made in two parts by dipping metal rods in molten gelatin solution. The capsules are supplied as closed units to the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Before use, the two halves are separated, the capsule is filled with powder (either by placing a compressed slug of powder into one half of the capsule, or by filling one half of the capsule with loose powder) and the other half of the capsule is pressed on. The advantage of inserting a slug of compressed powder is that control of weight variation is better, but the machinery involved is more complex.<ref>{{cite book | author = Bill Bennett and Graham Cole | title = Pharmaceutical Production, an Engineering Guide | publisher = IChemE | date = 2003 | pages = 126-129 | id = ISBN 0852954409 }}</ref> ==See also== * [[Pharmaceutical formulation]] * [[Pill splitting]] ==References== ===Footnotes=== {{reflist}} ===General references=== *{{cite book | author=L. Lachman, H.A. Lieberman, J.L. Kanig | title=The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy (3rd Ed.) | publisher=Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia | year=1986 | id=ISBN 0-8121-0977-5}} {{Dosage forms}} [[Category:Pharmaceutical industry]] [[Category:Dosage forms]] [[ar:حبة دوائية]] [[da:Kapsel (medicin)]] [[de:Kapsel (Medikament)]] [[eo:Kapsulo]] [[fr:Gélule]] [[lt:Kapsulė (vaistai)]] [[nl:Capsule]] [[ja:カプセル剤]] [[no:Kapsler]] [[pt:Cápsula (medicamento)]] [[ro:Capsulă]] [[zh:膠囊劑]]