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| Pharmaceutical |
| Today Gelatin is a vital ingredient in the most popular drug delivery systems in the world such as two piece hard capsules, soft capsules, tablets, coated tablets, mini, micro capsules etc. |
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Two piece Hard Capsule:
The manufacture of Hard Gelatin Capsules involves the dipping of
stainless steel mould pins into the Gelatin solution, drying, stripping
from the pin into a collate, trimming of the caps and bodies, and
joining them together. The strength, flexibility, clarity and viscous
nature of Gelatin provide characteristics that make it unique in
the manufacture of capsules. A typical Hard Capsules Grade Gelatin
specification will be:
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Gel strength (bloom) 200 - 270
Viscosity (mps) 40 - 50
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Soft Gelatin Capsules:
Softgels, as they are commonly known today, use a Gelatin solution
that is plasticized with propylene glycol, sorbitol, glycerin or other
approved mixtures. Soft Gelatin capsules are one-piece and hermetically
sealed to enclose a liquid or semi-liquid fill. Soft Gelatin capsules
are manufacture-formed, filled and sealed in one continuous operation.
A typical Soft Capsule Grade Gelatin specification will be: |
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• Gel Strength (bloom) 150 - 180
• Viscosity (mps) 30 - 40
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Tablets:
Gelatin is used in the preparation of the active ingredient and as
binder in the tablet. |
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Tablet Coating:
Gelatin is used as a film former in tablet coating. Tablets are generally
coated to reduce dusting, mask unpleasant taste and enable printing
and colour coating for product identification. |
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Other Pharmaceutical applications
of Gelatin include Suppositories, Micro-encapsulation, Surgical Sponges,
Bacterial Growth Media etc. |
