45D-7 |
Carbohydrate based hard capsule preparation: An hard gelatin capsule alternative |
H. J. BAE and H. J. Park. Graduate School of Biotechnology, Korea University, Sung Buk Gu An Am 5 Ga, Laboratory of Packaging Engineering (lab 307), Seoul, 136-701, South Korea Due to its ideal properties, gelatin serves as the main ingredient for the hard capsule production. However, the animal origin of gelatin makes it necessary to have other capsule shell materials available since the advent of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy have caused serious problem worldwide. This substitute substance must have equivalent property when compared with hard gelatin capsules. Plant origin biodegradable carbohydrates, especially starches are known to have the potential to replace the conventional capsule manufacture. High amylose starches have good film forming property (major property that a capsule must have) and mechanical strength. We have produced prototype starch capsules by conventional dip-moulding process. Our objective was to produce capsule using high amylose starch as a hard gelatin capsule alternative. We used sweet potato starch, which is abundant in korea and has high amylose content. Produced capsules/films were tested for its eligibility as a hard capsule. Capsule dipping solution was produced by mixing compatible gum and plasticizer with starch placed in 100oC water bath. Mixing was done by using anchor impeller. The solution was kept in 60oC water bath for maturation. Finally, the capsule was produced by conventional dip-moulding method. Capsule was successfully moulded using the solution mentioned above. The resulting capsule had clarity equivalent to that of a gelatin capsule. WVP test showed low WVP. The result of tensile strength test showed value higher than LDPE film and equivalent to MC film. Under ambient humidity, the starch film showed good oxygen barrier property. The starch capsules dissolved completely in 36.5oC water in less than ten minutes. The acquired results prove the potential of carbohydrate, especially starch, as a hard gelatin capsule substitute. Also, produced hard starch capsule can be enteric coated with various coating agents for the purpose of targeted drug delivery.
Session 45D, Food Packaging: General
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