HPMC Empty Capsules is a product with a natural concept, and its material and production process are recognized by the Jewish, Islamic and vegetarian associations, which can meet the needs of people of various religions and eating habits, and has a high acceptance. In addition, HPMC empty capsules have the following unique properties:
Low Water Content - About 60% Lower Than That of Gelatin Empty Capsules
The water content of gelatin capsules is generally 12.5%-17.5%. Whether it is in the process of empty capsule production, transportation, use and preservation, the temperature and humidity of the environment should be controlled in a suitable range. The appropriate temperature is 15-25℃and the relative humidity is 35%-65%, so that the performance of the product can be maintained for a long time. The water content of HPMC membrane is very low, generally 4%-5%, which is about 60% lower than that of gelatin capsules. The exchange of water with the environment in long-term storage will increase the water content of HPMC empty capsules in the prescribed packaging, but it will not exceed 9% in 5 years.
The low water content makes HPMC empty capsules suitable for filling with hygroscopic or moisture sensitive contents to extend the shelf life of the product.
High Toughness, No Brittle Breakage
As mentioned above, the gelatin film has a specified moisture content, if it is below this limit, the gelatin film will be significantly brittle. When the water content of ordinary empty gelatin capsules without any additives is 10%, the risk of brittleness is more than 10%. When the moisture is continuously reduced to 5%, 100% brittle will appear. In contrast, HPMC empty capsules have much better toughness and maintain good performance even with low ambient humidity. Of course, the brittleness rate of HPMC capsules with different prescriptions will vary greatly under low humidity.
On the contrary, gelatin capsules are placed in a high humidity environment, and the shell will become soft, deformed, and even collapse after absorbing water. HPMC empty capsules can maintain good shape and performance even under high-humidity conditions. Because of this, HPMC capsules have a strong adaptability to the environment, and the advantage of HMPC capsules is particularly significant when the product sales area covers a variety of climatic zones or the storage conditions are relatively poor.
Strong Chemical Stability
The crosslinking reaction of gelatin capsules is a difficult problem encountered in capsule preparations. Because the aldehyde group of the contents reacts with the amino group of amino acids in gelatin to form a network structure, the capsule shell is difficult to dissolve under the dissolution condition in vitro, which affects the release of the drug. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is a cellulose derivative that is chemically inert and has excellent compatibility with most substances, so HPMC capsules do not have the risk of cross-linking reaction and have high chemical stability.
Good Coating Performance
Enteric-coated capsules are used for drugs that are easily damaged by stomach acid, irritant to the gastric mucosa, or require targeted administration. The internationally accepted enteric capsule technology is enteric pellet and capsule integral coating. HPMC capsules show unique advantages in the overall coating of capsules.
The research shows that HPMC empty capsule has a rough surface, and its affinity with most enteric-coated materials is obviously higher than gelatin. The adhesion speed and uniformity of the coating materials are obviously better than gelatin, especially the reliability of the coating at the junction of body and cap is significantly improved. The vitro dissolution test showed that HPMC capsule coated had lower permeability in the stomach and good release in the intestine.
The characteristics of HPMC capsules make its application field expand continuously. From all-natural products to moisture sensitive or hygroscopic contents, today there are also unique applications in the field of dry powder inhalants and enteric coatings. It should be noted that HPMC empty capsules currently listed in China and abroad have relatively high oxygen permeability and slightly slower disintegration than gelatin empty capsules, but their bioavailability in vivo is similar, which should be considered in research and development. If there is any demands on empty capsules, welcome to contact KornnacCaps!
