Are Capsules really made up of Plastic?
Have you ever wondered, the capsules that we consume today are exactly made of what?
Your curiosity ends here with this two-minute read.
The pharmaceutical grade capsule, whether soft or hard appears as if it is made up of an edible plastic. Are plastics edible and are capsules really manufactured from plastic?
The answer is a big NO.
To end up the mystery, capsules are made of animal-derived material – GELATIN, which is a translucent, colourless, flavourless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and gummy when moist.
Majority of the capsules are manufactured from Gelatine, though there are also other raw materials i.e., HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or Hypromellose) and Pullulan.
HPMC and Pullulan are derived from plants and thus makes the vegetarian class.
Apart from the base material, there are other ingredients added to maintain the steady structure of capsule and direct them for specific drug delivery.
Since the major market of capsules is covered by Gelatine, the following ingredients are added to make a proper, hard capsule structure:
o Gelatine: Provides structure, forms the base material.
o Methyl and Propyl Paraben*: Act as preservatives.
o Sodium Lauryl Sulphate*: Manufacturing aid.
o PVP-K30 (Polyvinylpyrrolidone): Retains moisture.
o Silicon dioxide (SiO2): Static property.
o Titanium dioxide (TiO2): Opacifying agent.
o Soluble Colorants: Colouring agents.
*optional material
So here, you know the secret behind the capsules that we make!
Please feel free to contact us to know more about CAPSULES.
Government
9moCan the body dissolve or break down this coating
Technical Project Manager at Epsilon
1yThe gelatine capsules is a kind of plastic. Plastics can be made from many things. Usually plastic is made from petroleum products but it can be made from other vegetable or animal based sources. It's still plastic though so you are eating plastic.
Pharmaceutical Consultant
3yFor more than half century, these were being manufactured by Gelatin, but now modified forms of starch are also available to manufacture capsules.
International Sales Manager
3yHello, may I your company is in need for gelatin? 😄