While animal bones and leather are commonly used in the formulation and manufacture of hard gelatin capsules, there is now a vegetable capsule alternative called empty HPMC capsules (vegetarian capsules). These empty shells are filled with active pharmaceutical ingredients in dry or liquid form. If they are filled with powder, they are called dry-filled capsules, and if they are filled with liquids or semi-solids, they may be called liquid-filled capsules.
Vegetarian capsules made of cellulose are called hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsules. Empty HPMC vegetable capsules (vegetarian capsules) are made of natural polymers and fibers and can be called polymer capsules. These polymer capsules can also function as extended-release capsules because of their ability to delay drug release from the capsule shell.
In addition, these HPMC vegetable capsules (hypromellose capsules) are attractive, all-natural solid dosage forms that retain all the benefits of hard capsules; they are easy to swallow, effectively mask taste and odor, and make the product visible.
As a result, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) has become a successful alternative to two-piece hard gelatin capsules and is used around the world as a supplement to liquid-filled or dry-filled capsules. Due to their low moisture content, these HPMC (vegetarian) capsules or vegetable capsules offer significant advantages over other solid dosage forms.
Future improvements in the production and filling of HPMC capsule shells (hypromellose capsules) and they're in vivo/in vitro dissolution improvements will ensure that they are superior to hard gelatin capsules.
Benefits of HPMC Capsules:
- Easy to digest
- Improve bioavailability
- Reduce costs
- Reduce the cross-linking reaction
- Packaging and packaging optimization
- No preservatives (all natural)
- A wider customer base
