L103- Capsules

Question 1

what are the two main parts of a capsule?

Answer 1

the cap and the body

Question 2

how many different sizes are capsules available in?

Answer 2

8

Question 3

what are the different types of capsules?

Answer 3

hard and soft

Question 4

why do we use HGC over tablets?

Answer 4

• water sensitive

- degrade on compression

Question 5

where does gelatin come from?

Answer 5

prepared from the hydrolysis of collagen from animals

Question 6

how are the size of capsules organised?

Answer 6

the smaller the number the larger the capsule

Question 7

what are gelatine capsules good?

Answer 7

they are non toxic and have a good film and are readily dispersed in body fluids

Question 8

what is gelatine made from?

Answer 8

84%-90% protein

-3 chains form left hand spiral

Question 9

what is the difference between hard and soft gelatine

Answer 9

hard gelatine has high bloom.

Question 10

how are capsules coloured?

Answer 10

using insoluble pigments

-soluble dyes

Question 11

what are the pigments made from?

Answer 11

titanium dioxide- white

iron oxides- black, red or yellow

Question 12

how do you fill capsules in a small industrial scale and in hospitals?

Answer 12

use the bench scale

Question 13

how do you fill capsules in a large industrial places?

Answer 13

industrial scale method, it is all automated

Question 14

what temperature are gelatine capsules readily soluble at?

Answer 14

37 degrees

Question 15

what temperature is the HGC insoluble at?

Answer 15

30 degrees

Question 16

what is the Notes Whitney equation?

Answer 16

dm/dt = DA(Cs-C)/h

Question 17

what does the Notes Whitney equation show?

Answer 17

dissolution of the powder

Question 18

why might a drug be relaesed slowly?

Answer 18

• strong compaction

- hydrophobicity of powder contents – lubricants and glidants tend to reduce wetting

Question 19

what are unconventional capsules?

Answer 19

used mostly for controlled release. they may also have pellets

Question 20

can liquids be used to fill capsules?

Answer 20

yes, molten liquids which then sets (polymer or lipid ) called solid dispersion, sealed using banding

Question 21

why should soft gelatine capsules have a moisture level of 13%+?

Answer 21

-otherwise they will be flaking off

Question 22

what do SGC look like?

Answer 22

commonly seen as ovals and in different colours

Question 23

why would you use soft capsules?

Answer 23

 Avoids handling and compression properties associated with tablets
 Improved drug oral bioavailability
 Dose uniformity of low-dose drugs
 Safety for potent and cytotoxic drugs
 Means of formulating liquids, such as oils and low melting- point drugs

Question 24

why wouldn’t you use soft capsules?

Answer 24

• Specialist equipment required

- increasing cost compared to conventional capsules and tablets

Question 25

what bloom value are soft gelatine capsules?

Answer 25

low

Question 26

what should a SGC shell consist of?

Answer 26

• gelatin 40-50%,
• plasticizer (20-30%)
• water (30-40% initially, less than 7% after drying)

Question 27

how are capsules manufactured?

Answer 27

using rotary die process

Question 28

what is the rotary die process?

Answer 28

the continuous formation of a heat seal between two ribbons of gelatin, simultaneous with dosing of the fill liquid into each capsule

Question 29

what types of liquids might not be suitable for SGC?

Answer 29

• liquids that easily migrate through gelatine shell

- anything thing that changes the pH

Question 30

what materials are used to fill soft capsules?

Answer 30

 Water-immiscible (lipophilic) liquids/oils, such as triglyceride oils
 Water-miscible (hydrophilic) liquids, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400
 Self-emulsifying oils, such as oil+Polysorbate 80
 Microemulsion and nanoemulsion systems
 Suspensions (Need to consider use of suspending agents)

Question 31

When are most drugs absorbed best?

Answer 31

after a fatty meal

Question 32

when will acid soluble drugs dissolve in the body?

Answer 32

in the stomach and will be well distributed through the GI tract

Question 33

when will acid insoluble drugs dissolve in the body?

Answer 33

they will precipitate in the stomach

Question 34

what is water immiscible vehicles such as oils?

Answer 34

formulation for Poorly water-soluble drugs often can be dissolved in oil or a mixture of oil and surfactants therefore the drug absorption is enhanced also through lymphatic system.