The major advantage of hard gelatin capsules is that it can provide rapid and controlled drug release, provides flexibility in the formulation, and protect from the light, moisture, unpleasant taste, and odor of the drug.
Capsules are solid dosage forms in which one or more active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or drug with excipients are enclosed within a small shell or container that is usually prepared in an appropriate form of gelatin.
Depending on the physical state of the drug to be filled, the gelatin capsule shells may be hard or soft. Hard gelatin capsules are used for the solid substance while soft gelatin capsules are the use of liquid and semi-solid material. Hard gelatin capsules consist of a hemispherical cap and a cylindrical shell, each a cylindrical body and cap and typically manufactured with gelatin, water with added preservative, titanium dioxide, plasticizer as well as coloring agents.
Advantages of hard gelatin capsules:
- Compared to tablets, capsules are much easier to swallow (oral route) for the elderly and children.
- Hard gelatin capsules make it easier to fill the modified-release beads because they are filled without a compression that can cause particles to burst.
- As compared to the tablet dosage form, it required fewer excipients to prepare, and it’s easily digested.
- Modern capsule filling machines allow the multiple filling of different systems, such as granules, powders, beads, small tablets, and even semi-solids.
- It is possible to control the drug release profile by using the hard gelatin capsules.
- It is possible to have a unique blended film in hard gelatin capsules, which is limited in tablets.
- For multi-particulate administration and the combination of different drugs within the same strong dosage unit, it offers great flexibility.
- Hard gelatin capsules are providing better bioavailability compared with tablets.
- Hard gelatin capsule is masked the unpleasant taste and odor of drugs and excipients.
- Hard gelatin capsules come in various shapes and sizes according to application and use and contain one or more active components.
Disadvantages of hard gelatin capsules:
- The major disadvantage of hard gelatin capsules is that the drugs that absorb water from the shell of the hygroscopic capsule render it brittle and are therefore not ideal for filling the capsules.
- Generally, highly soluble salts should not be dispensed in hard gelatin capsules because their rapid release can cause gastric irritation.
- A capsule requires special conditions for storage purposes.
- Typically, hard gelatin capsules are more expensive than the tablets as it requires more processing, types of equipment, and time.
- Cross-linking may affect hard gelatin capsules.
- Hard gelatin capsules are not appropriate for strongly hygroscopic drugs and bulky materials.
- Hard gelatin capsules cause dust in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process as compared to soft gelatin capsules.
Commonly asked questions on capsules and tablets are as follows.
What is the difference between coated and uncoated tablets?
Coated tablets are designed to control the release profile of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), and to mask taste and odor, while uncoated tablets are designed to provide fast disintegration in the stomach
What is a hard gelatin capsule used for?
A hard gelatin capsule is a type of capsule commonly used to make medicines in the form of dry powder, granules, or very small pellets.
What is the difference between soft and hard gelatin capsules?
Soft-gels are hermetically sealed as a single-piece containing a semi-solid or liquid fill, while the hard gelatin capsules consist of two pieces, a body and a cap containing a dry powder or a granule.
What are the types of capsules in pharmaceuticals?
Hard gelatin capsules and soft gelatin capsules are two main types of capsules, although enteric-coated capsules, sustained-release capsules, and rectal capsules are also types of capsules.
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