Explain the Hard gelatin & soft gelatin
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Answer:
hard gelatin capsule in the Pharmaceutical Industry. ... Hard gelatin capsules are usually filled with powders, granules, or tiny pellets. A hard gelatin capsule is a type of capsule that is usually used to contain medicine in the form of dry powder or very small pellets.
A softgel is an oral dosage form for medicine similar to capsules. They consist of a gelatin based shell surrounding a liquid fill. Softgel shells are a combination of gelatin, water, opacifier and a plasticiser such as glycerin or sorbitol.
Soft Gelatin Capsules
Also called softgels, soft gelatin capsules are a case produced from a single piece of gelatin, rather than two halves attached together. They are used for solutions not based on water, as this would dissolve the gelatin, but for oil based solutions. The active ingredients is dissolved in the oil-based solution, and once the capsule is ingested, it dissolves within the body, releasing the drug. The capsule dissolves within minutes of reaching the stomach. The soft gelatin capsule is manufactured and filled using the same machine as part of a single process, and some have the brands or dosage strength printed on then. Gelatin is hygroscopic in nature, and the gels contain between 5-14% water.
Hard Gelatin Capsules
Hard gelatin capsules, unlike the soft form, are made of two parts, the body and the cap, each of a different colour. This form of capsule holds dry ingredients in powder form. The body is first filled with the mix of active ingredients and any excipients used, and then closed with the cap using either a manual or automatic press machine.
Once ingested, the hard capsules disintegrate within three minutes and quickly release the drug inside. Hard gelatin capsules are also hygroscopic and contain a higher water content than the soft capsules at around 12-15%.
Some drugs need to be released at certain points in the body, and therefore the capsule must release the drug at an earlier time. To enable this, the capsule can be filled with target release pellets. As well as powdered ingredients, the gelatin capsules can also be used to cover premade tablets.