Тwo-piece telescoping gelatin capsule
- Courier
- In detail
- Type of capsulesGelatin
- Type of releaseHard
James Murdock of London patented the two-piece telescoping gelatin capsule in 1847.[2] The capsules are made in two parts by dipping metal pins in the gelling agent solution. Two-piece gelatin capsule machinery is manufactured by R&J Engineering Corporation of Canada. The capsules are supplied as closed units to the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Before use, the two halves are separated, the capsule is filled with powder or more normally pellets made by the process of Extrusion & Spheronization (either by placing a compressed slug of powder into one half of the capsule, or by filling one half of the capsule with loose powder) and the other half of the capsule is pressed on. With the compressed slug method, weight varies less between capsules. However, the machinery required to manufacture them is more complex.[3]
The powder or spheroids inside the capsule contains the active ingredient(s) and any excipients, such as binders, disintegrants, fillers, glidant, and preservatives.