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SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES: DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATIONS AND RECENT

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 ISSN NO- 2321-7855

International Research Journal for Inventions in

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Review Article
SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES: DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATIONS AND RECENT
PATENTS
Garg Deepak*, Kishor Kamal, Bilandi Ajay, Kataria Kumar Mahesh
Department of Pharmaceutics, Seth G. L. Bihani S.D. College of Technical Education
(Pharmacy), Sri Ganganagar-335001 (Raj.) INDIA
E-mail address: [email protected]

Article Received on: 16/04/14, Revised on: 26/04/2014, Approved for publication: 13/ 05/2014

Abstract
Soft Gelatin Capsules were developed in the 19th century to mask unpleasant taste and odor of drug
substances. After then, many improvements have been made with respect to the production of these
soft capsules. In the pharmaceutical field, the softgel dosage forms are increasingly being preferred.
Technologically with softgel, content uniformity of low-dose drugs has been achieved and also has
consumer preference as is easy to swallow. Advances have recently been made in the area of
developing liquid and semi-solid formulations in a soft gelatin capsule to address particular bio-
performance issues. The softgel dosage form therefore offers several advantages over other oral
dosage forms, such as delivering a liquid matrix designed to solubilize rapidly. This improves the oral
bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds. Delivery of low and ultra-low doses of a compound
using softgel also ensures decreased plasma variability. However, due to the dynamic nature of the
softgel dosage form, its development and shelf-life stability optimization are challengeable. This has
led to the commercial pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries opting for the development of
alternative shell forming materials instead of the traditional capsule shell material gelatin. This review
discusses establishment and the on-going development of the manufacturing technology for liquid fill
capsules with focus on soft gelatin capsules formulation in oral administration. Also considers the
various pharmaceutical applications and recent patents on soft gelatin capsules.
KEYWORDS: Soft Gelatin Capsules, Oral Administration, Drugs Formulation, Development

INTRODUCTION They are also useful when the drug needs to be

Capsules are the most versatile of all dosage mixed with oil or other liquid to aid absorption
forms and are easier to swallow and are used in the body. It is normally a shell or container
by manufacturers when the drug can’t be made of gelatin that contains the drug. There
compacted into a solid tablet. Capsules are are two types of capsules, “hard” and “soft”.
solid dosage forms in which one or more The hard capsule is also called “two pieces”
medicinal and inert ingredients are enclosed in which are more commonly seen as it consists
a small shell or container usually made of of two pieces in the form of small cylinders
gelatin. closed at one end; the shorter piece is called
the “cap” which fits over the open end of the
Address for correspondence: longer piece, called the “body” and is then
Garg Deepak filled with the drug. This formulation is
E mail: [email protected] normally more suitable for drug powders and
Access this article online can only be used if the drug will be easily
www.irjips.com dissolved in the stomach. The soft gelatin
capsule is also called as “one piece”. Capsules

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

are available in many sizes to provide dosing finished product gelatin shell is primarily
flexibility. Soft capsules are formed in a single composed of gelatin, plasticizer and water.
piece and are more suitable for oils e.g. Fish The fill material can include a wide variety of
oils, or drugs that need to be dissolved in oils vehicles and can either be a solution or a
or other liquids to aid the drug to be absorbed suspension. Softgels may be coated with
in the stomach. In soft capsules the drug is suitable exterior coating agents such as
combined with an appropriate solvent in the cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) to obtain
centre of the capsule and the capsule shell enteric release of encapsulated material. The
melts within minutes in the stomach. standard softgel shape of oral pharmaceutical
Unpleasant drug tastes and odors are masked products is oval, oblong and round, though
by the tasteless gelatin shell. [1] The softgel as softgels can be manufactured in many shapes.
a dosage form has remained largely unchanged Their aesthetic properties and ‘swallow
over the years. Banner has developed new ability’, their tamper-resistance, their
softgel variants that not only offer specific protection of the active ingredient from light
benefits over the standard softgel, but also and oxidation, their taste-masking of
provide additional patent protection to the ingredients and their masking of unpleasant
compounds they deliver. Softgels’ ability to odours of ingredients makes softgels a useful
enhance bioavailability not only makes them and frequently applied dosage form. [1] Soft
the preferred dosage form for new chemical gelatin capsules are not easily prepared except
entities with poor oral bioavailability, they can on a large scale and with specialized
also be used for reformulation of existing equipment, an expensive dosage form, when
drugs, with the purpose of life-cycle extension. compared with direct compression tablets,
[2]
more intimate contact between the shell and its
A soft gelatin capsule is a solid capsule (outer liquid contents than exists with dry-filled hard
shell) surrounding a liquid or semi-solid center gelatin capsules, which increases the
(inner fill), as shown in figure 1. An active possibility of interactions. These are not
ingredient can be incorporated into the outer adaptable to incorporation of more than one
shell, the inner fill, or both. These are single- kind of fill into the same capsule (compare
unit solid dosage form, consisting of a liquid with hard shell capsules). [4]
or semi-solid fill enveloped by one piece FORMULATION OF SOFT GELATIN
sealed elastic outer shell. The amount of drug CAPSULES:
or extract together with adjuvant is enclosed Plasticizers:
within a globular, oval or other shape of a soft These are used to make the softgel shell elastic
shell. The softgel can contain the active and pliable. They usually account for 20-30%.
ingredient in solution, suspension or emulsion, The most common plasticizers used in softgels
which will inherently lead to better absorption is glycerol, although sorbitol and propylene
of the active ingredient as compared with glycol-400 are used frequently often in
delivery in a tablet or as a powder. Due to combination with glycerol. The amount and
economic, technical and patent constraints choice of the plasticizer contribute to the
there are relatively a few manufacturers of hardness of the final product and may even
softgels in the world. affect its dissolution or disintegration
characteristics, as well as its physical and
chemical stability. One of the most important
aspect of softgel formulation is to ensure that
there is minimum interaction or migration
between the liquid fill matrix and the soft gel
shell. The choice of plasticizer type and
concentration is important in ensuring
optimum compatibility of the shell with the
liquid fill matrix. [3]
Water:
The other essential component of the soft gel
Figure No.1: Soft gelatin capsules shell is water. Water usually accounts for 30-
Softgel is a hermetically sealed, one-piece 40 % of the wet gel formulation and its
capsule with a liquid or semisolid fill. In the presence is important to ensure proper

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

processing during gel preparation and softgel preparation of soft gelatin capsules. It has 20-
encapsulation. In dry gels the equilibrium 40% of net moisture content. [5]
water content is typically in the range 5-8%
w/w, which represents the proportion of water 2. Rotary Die Process:
that is bound to the gelatin in the soft gel shell.
This level of water is important for good Before encapsulation process takes place,
physical stability, because in harsh storage there are two basic processes.
conditions softgels will become either too soft Production of gel mass which provide the
and fuse together, or too hard and embrittled. soft gel shell:
[3] The gel mass is prepared by dissolving the
gelatin in water approximately at 80ºC and
Colorants/Opacifiers:
Colorants can be either synthetic or natural, under vacuum, followed by addition of
and are used to impart the desired shell color plasticizer. Once the gelatin is fully dissolved
for product identification. An opacifier, other components such as color, opacifier,
usually titanium dioxide may be added to flavours and preservatives may be added. The
produce an opaque shell when the fill color is compared with the standard. Then the
formulation is a suspension, or to prevent temperature maintained at 57-60ºC in melting
tank. The hot gel mass is then supplied to the
photo degradation of light-sensitive fill
ingredients. Titanium dioxide can either be encapsulation machine through heated transfer
used alone to produce a white opaque shell or pipes by a casting method that forms two
in combination with pigments to produce a separate gelatin ribbons. The gelatin mass is
colored opaque shell. [4] fed by gravity to a metering device which
controls the flow of mass on to air heated (13-
Preservatives:
Preservatives are used for preserve the drug 14ºC) rotating drums. Gelatin ribbons are
medicament from the microbes. It is used produced. During the casting process the
about 0.2% concentration of total drug gelatin pass through the sol gel transformer
medicament. Methyl paraben and propyl and the thickness of each ribbon is controlled
paraben is mainly used as preservative. to ±0.1 mm. The thickness is checked
regularly during the process. The ribbon of
Flavouring Agents:
Flavouring agents is used for the taste 0.022-0.045 inches but for most capsules it is
masking. Ethyl vanillin, essential oils, and between 0.025-0.032 inches. The two gel
different sugar mainly sucrose is also used as ribbons are then carried through rollers (at
flavouring agent. [4] which a small quantity of vegetable oil
lubricant is applied) and onwards to the
MANUFACTURING OF SOFT GELATIN
rotatory die encapsulation. Each ribbon
CAPSULE:
Following methods are used: provides one-half of the softgel. [3]
1. Plate process Fill Matrix:
2. Rotary die process The liquid fill matrix containing the active
3. Reciprocating die process drug substance is manufactured separately
4. Accogel process from preparation of molten gel. Manufacture
5. Seamless gelatin capsules of the active fill matrix involves dispersing or
dissolving the drug substances in the non-
aqueous liquid vehicle using conventional
1. Plate process:
In this process a warmed sheet of gelatin sheet mixer homogenizers. They also break up the
agglomerates of solids. Oxygen sensitive
is placed over a die plate having a number of
depression or moulds or numerous die pockets. drugs are protected by mixing under vacuum
The sheet is drawn into these depressions or and or inert gas or by addition of antioxidant.
pockets by applying vacuum. A measured Rotatory Die:
quantity of liquid medicament is pour over it. This machine has two, side-by-side cylinders
Over this another plate of the mould is placed in each of which half-moulds are cut, as shown
and the pressure is then applied to the combine in figure 2. These cylinders, like the rollers of
plate. The capsules are then simultaneously a mangle, rotate in contrary direction and as
shaped, filled, sealed and cut into individual they are mirror images the moulds come
units. This method is uses for small scale together precisely during rotation. Two
ribbons of gelatin are fed between the rollers
and, just before the opposing rollers meet, jets

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

of medicament press the gelatin ribbon into the roll, and the pockets in the two rolls are
moulds, filling each half. The moment of aligned with each other. The powder or
pressure follows, immediately sealing the two granular fill material is held in the pockets of
halves together to form a capsule. These rotary the measuring roll under vacuum. A
machines are capable of producing between plasticized sheet is drawn in to the die pockets
25000 and 30000 capsules an hour with an of the die roll under vacuum. As the measuring
accuracy of dosage of approximately ±1 roll and the die roll rotate, the measured doses
percent. [5] are transferred to the gelatin lined pockets of
the die roll. The continue rotation of the filled
die converges with the rotating sealing roll
where second gelatin sheet is applied to form
the other half of capsule. The pressure
developed between the both rolls seals and cut
out of the capsules. [5]
5. Seamless gelatin capsules:
It is a modern method for making soft gelatin
capsules takes advantage of the phenomenon
of drop formation. The essential part of the
apparatus consists of two concentric tubes.
Through the inner tube flows the medicament
and, through the surrounding outer tube, the
gelatin solution. The medicament, therefore,
issues from the tube surrounded by gelatin and
forming a spherical drop. This is ensured by
allowing the drop to form in liquid paraffin in
Figure 3: Schematic diagram or rotary die which the gelatin is insoluble. Regular induced
machine [4] pulsations cause drops of the correct size to be
Encapsulation: formed, and a temperature of 4°C ensures that
Liquid gelatin flowing from an overhead tank the gelatin shell is rapidly congealed. The
is forward into continuous ribbon by the capsules are subsequently degreased and dried.
[3]
rotating drum and brought together between
twin rotating dies. The injection of liquid EVALUATION OF SOFT GELATIN
between the ribbons, force the gel to expend CAPSULES:
and into the packets of dies, which govern the The Soft gelatin capsules should be
size n shape of the softgels. The sealing of the subjected to following tests for their
capsules is done by mechanical pressure on the standardization.
die rolls and the heating of ribbons by the Disintegration Test:
wedge. After manufacture, it is subjected to IR For performing disintegration test on capsules
drying and then they are separated on the tray the tablet disintegration test apparatus is used
and stacked in funnel drier that supplies air at but the guiding disc may not be used except
20% relative humidity. [5] that the capsules float on top of the water. If
hard capsules float on the surface of the water,
3. Reciprocating Die Process: the discs may be added. One capsule is placed
This is similar to rotary process, but is differ in in each tube which is then suspended in the
the actual encapsulating process. The gelatin beakers to move up and down for 30 minutes.
ribbons are fed between a set of vertical dies The beaker containing 600 ml water and
that continuously open and close to form the temperature is 37 °C. Unless otherwise stated
rows of the pockets in the gelatin ribbons. in the monograph. The capsules pass the test if
These pockets are filled with the medication no residue of drug or other than fragments of
and are sealed, shaped and cut out of the film shell remains on No. 10 mesh screen of the
as they progress through the machinery. [5] tubes. If the disc is used, any residue
4. Accogel Process (Stern Machine): remaining on its lower surface should only
This is another rotary process involving the consist of fragments of shell. [7]
measuring roll, a die roll and a sealing roll. Dissolution:
The measuring roll rotates directly over the die

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

It is done if capsules contain drug which have By packing the dosage unit together with color
limited solubility in gel fluid. The dissolution revealing desiccant pellet; exposing the
test is carried out using the dissolution packaged unit to known relative humidity over
apparatus official in both the U.S.P. and N.F. a specified time, observing the desiccant pellet
The capsule is placed in a basket formed from for color change and comparing the pre and
40-mesh stainless steel fabric. A stirrer is post weight of the packaged unit, moisture
attached to the basket, and the basket is permeation can be determined. [7]
immersed in the dissolution medium and Capsule Stability:
caused to rotate at a specified speed. The This inherent characteristic warrants a brief
dissolution medium is held in a covered 1000 discussion of the effects of temperature and
ml glass vessel and maintained at 37°C ± humidity on these products, and points to the
0.5°C by means of a suitable constant necessity of proper storage and packaging
temperature water bath. The stirrer speed and conditions and to the necessity of choosing an
type of dissolution medium are specified in the appropriate retail package. The variety of
individual monograph. [9] materials capsulated, which may have an
Weight Variation Test: effect on the gelatin shell, together with the
Twenty capsules are taken at random and many gelatin formulations that can be used,
weighed. Their average weight is calculated, makes it imperative that physical standards are
then each capsule is weighed individually and established for each product. [7]
their weight noted. The capsule passes the test
if the weight of individual capsule falls within APPLICATIONS:
90-110% of the average weight. If this The soft gelatin capsules have wide range of
requirement is not met, then the weight of the application in pharmaceutical field. Among
contents for each individual capsule is them few are mentioned below.
determined and compared with the average Ophthalmic Soft Gelatin Capsules:
weight of the contents. The contents from the It is very important that the ophthalmic
shells can be removed just by emptying or ointments should be sterile and free from
with the help of small brush. The remainder irritant effect. Therefore they must be packed
contents are removed by washing with a in such a manner that the product remains
suitable solvent. After drying the shells, they sterile until whole of it is used up. The best
are weighed and the content weights of the method to keep the preparation free from
individual capsules are calculated. The contamination during use is to pack it in single
requirements are met if not more than 2 of the dose containers. Now a day’s soft gelatin
differences are greater than 10 % of the capsules are very commonly used for filling
average net content and in no case the ophthalmic ointments. These capsules are
difference is greater than 25 %. [7] meant for single application to the eye. Just
before application, the capsule is punctured
with a sterile needle, the contents instilled into
Content Uniformity Test: the eye and the shell discarded. [12]
This test is applicable to all capsules which are
meant for oral administration. For this test a Chewable Soft Gelatin Capsules:
sample of the contents is assayed as described The chewable gelatin dosage form offers
in individual monographs and the values excellent mouth feel and chewing experience
calculated which must comply with the as compared with other chewable dosage
prescribed standards. 30 capsules are selected forms. Chewable soft gels are particularly
and 10 of these are assayed individually. At suitable for pediatric populations, where
least 9 of these contain 85–115 % of drug and swallowing whole tablets or capsules is often a
none contain below 75–125% of drug. If 1 to 3 problem, and chewable tablets are often
of them falls outside of 85 – 115% limits, the rejected. Consumer preference testing with
remaining 20 capsules are individually assayed Banner’s new chewable gels showed that three
and the requirements are met if no few than 27 out of four parents would buy this product for
contain 85 – 115 % of drug and none contain their children data on file. This approach has
less than 75 – 125 % of drug. [5] resulted in a highly acceptable end-product.
Moisture Permeation Test: Other taste-masking technologies can be
combined with the chewable softgel. [12]
Controlled Release Soft Gelatin Capsules:
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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

Banner’s scientists have developed a adhesion of the enteric polymer onto the soft
controlled release technology that is able to gelatin shell due to the shell’s inherent flexible
achieve a large variety of release patterns. The nature. [12]
controlled release softgel can be applied to a Gelatin-Free Soft Gelatin Capsules:
wide range of active molecules. Banner’s Gelatin-free soft capsules are made from
controlled release softgel technology uses a vegetable ingredients. They have all the
lipid matrix in a standard softgel shell. advantages of standard softgels, but do not
Depending on the physicochemical properties contain gelatin. Gelatin free soft capsules are
of the active molecule, an emulsion or a particularly suitable for vegetarians or other
suspension is chosen as a matrix. The result is populations that prefer non-animal products.
[10]
an oral dosage form offering controlled release
of the active moiety, combined with all the Suckable Soft Gelatin Capsules:
benefits that the softgel dosage form offers.[12] It consists of a gelatin shell containing the
Enteric Coated Soft Gelatin Capsules: flavoured medicament to be sucked and a
In contrast to existing enteric dosage forms, liquid matrix or just air inside the capsule. The
Banner’snew enteric softgel is not coated. The drug may be present in both the shell and fill
enteric features of the dosage form reside in matrix.
the shell itself. The result is a clear enteric Twist-Off Soft Gelatin Capsules:
dosage form with the exact same appeal and These are designed with a tag to be twisted or
patient benefits that the standard softgel offers. snipped off, thereby allowing access to the fill
Traditionally, enteric softgels were prepared material. It can be very useful for unit dosing
by coating with enteric polymers using of topical medication, inhalations, or indeed
traditional coating technology. Coating has its for oral dosing of a pediatric product. [13]
own disadvantages such as unsuccessful

MARKETED FORMULATIONS OF SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES: Soft gelatin capsules

posses many marketed formulations some of them are following.

Table No. 1: Marketed formulations of soft gelatin capsule

S .No. Generic Name Branded Name Uses
1. Vitaminum-A 2500 [12] Retinol palmitate 2500 Prevention of vitamin-A deficiency.
2. Vitamin-E synthetic 400mg DL-α Tocopherol Drug applied in vitamin-E deficiency
[12]
acetate 400
3. Lecithin 300mg [6] Lecithin 300 mg Lipid metabolism disorders.

4. Methoxsalen [11] Oxsoralen-Ultra Used in patients with severe, disabling

psoriasis.
5. Lukatret 10mg [3] Tretinoin In treatment of Acute Promyelocytic
Leukemia.
6. Entericare [3] Entericare It provide sustained delivery
7. Quali-V [3] Quali V For eventual use in pharmaceutical
products.

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

PATENT RELATED TO SOFT GELATIN CAPSULE:

A few patents granted for soft gelatin capsules are mentioned below in table 2.

Table No. 2: Patent related to soft gelatin capsule

Patent No. Title Year Patentee / Assignee References

US 8,697,122 Formulation for April 15, 2014 Ditzinger; Gunter Ditzinger, et al. [14]
retinoid-containing soft (Freiburg, DE),
gelatin capsules Gabriel; Bernhard
(Oberuzwil, CH),
Schmitt-Hoffmann;
Anne-Hortense
(Basel, CH),
Wevelsiep; Lutz
(Lorrach, DE)
US 8,685,445 Enteric composition for April 1, 2014 Hassan; Emadeldin Hassan , et al. [15]
the manufacture of soft M. (Greensboro,
capsule wall NC), Fatmi; Aqeel
A. (Greensboro,
NC), Chidambaram;
Nachiappan (High
Point, NC)
US Crystallization inhibitor March 18, Andr sek; Andr se, et al. [16]
8,67,35 and its use in gelatin 2014 Toma{hacek over
1 capsules (s)} (Branka u
Opavy, CZ), Vrana;
Ale{hacek over (s)}
(Opava, CZ)
US 8,642,030 Compositions February 4, Shi; Jingang Shi , et al. [17]
containing coenzyme Q- 2014 (Beijing, CN), Zhao;
10 and dihydrolipoic Chenghai (Beijing,
acid CN), Pan; Wenxian
(Beijing, CN), Feng;
Yunlong (Tianjin,
CN)
US 8,435,967 Water dispersible May 7, 2013 Madhavi; Doddabele Madhavi , et al. [18]
policosanol cyclodextrin L. (Worcester, MA),
complex and method of Kagan; Daniel I.
its production (Belmont, MA)
US 8,309,107 Stable solutions of November 13, Liu; Zhi Liu , et al. [19]
orlistat for 2012 (Jamestown, NC),
pharmaceutical dosage Toops; Dana S.
forms (Parkland, FL),
Fatmi; Aqeel A.
(Greensboro, NC)

US 8,287,904 Stable soft capsule October 16, Borkan; Lionel Borkan [20]
dosage form for 2012 (New Vernon, NJ)
acetylsalicylic acid

US 7,632,853 Soluble, stable and December 15, Pacheco; Ogari Pacheco , et al. [21]
concentrated 2009 (Itapira, BR), Rusoo;
International Research Journal of Inventions in Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol 2 Issue 3 169
 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

pharmaceutical Elisa (Itapira, BR),

composition Russo; Valter
compromising ritonavir (Itapira, BR)
and process for
preparing thereof
US 7,446,101 Bioavailable carotenoid- November 4, Madhavi; Doddabele Madhavi , et al. [22]
cyclodextrin 2008 L. (Worcester, MA),
formulations for soft- Kagan; Daniel I.
gels and other (Belmont, MA)
encapsulation systems

US 7,078,054 Soft gelatin capsule July 18, 2006 Brox; Werner Brox , et al. [23]
manufacture (Beerfelden, DE),
Meinzer; Armin
(Freiburg, DE),
Zande; Horst
(Schonbrunn, DE)
US 6,805,818 Apparatus and methods October 19, Schurig; Gregory A. Schurig , et al. [24]
for forming patterned 2004 (Clearwater, FL),
soft gelatin capsules Bezaire; Bud
(Kingsville, CA),
Ratko; Michael
(Windsor, CA),
Baker; Lawrence A.
(Tampa, FL),
Mikalian; Robert
(Windsor, CA)
US 6,551,615 Dexibuprofen- April 22, 2003 Iyer; V. S. Iyer , et al. [25]
containing soft gelatin (Bangalore, IN),
capsules and process for Katageri; Shivaraj B.
preparing the same (Bangalore, IN)
US 6,387,400 Process for preparing May 14, 2002 Tindal; Stephen Tindal , et al. [26]
pharmaceutical Charles (Lakeside,
compositions for use GB), Webster;
with soft gelatin Christopher Clive
formulations (Chippenham, GB),
Ferdinando
US 6,258,380 Chewable soft capsule July 10, 2001 Overholt; Susan M. Overholt [27]
(McLeansville, NC)
US 6,197,787 Pharmaceutical March 6, 2001 Franson; Nancy M. Franson , et al. [28]
formulations containing (Collegeville, PA),
poorly soluble drug Guillot; Micael A.
substances (Malvern, PA),
Laughlin; Sharon M.
(Phoenixville, PA),
Rocco; William L.
(Reading, PA)
US 6,099,858 Methods for preparing August 8, Morton; Frank S. S. Morton , et al. [29]
gelatin capsules 2000 (Seminole, FL),
containing fragrances Duque; Pilar P.
(Tampa, FL),
Chiprich; Timothy
B. (St. Petersburg,
FL), Stroud; Norman

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

S. (Safety Harbor,
FL)
US 6,022,499 Method for striping or February 8, Schurig; Gregory A. Schurig , et al. [30]
marbleizing capsules 2000 (Clearwater, FL),
Bezaire; Bud
(Kingsville, CA),
Ratko; Michael
(Windsor, CA)
US 5,173,304 Agents for the treatment December 22, Lohner; Manfred Lohner , et al. [31]
of severe pain and 1992 (Bonn, DE), Posselt;
preparation of said Klaus (Bonn, DE),
agents Vogtle-Junkert; Ute
(Alfter, DE),
Wagener; Hans H.
(Meckenheim, DE)
US 4,891,229 Soft gelatin capsules and January 2, Brox; Werner (6124 Brox , et al. [32]
processes for their 1990 Beerfelden, DE),
manufacture Gabler; Wilfried
(6900 Heidelberg,
DE)
US 4,701,327 Etoposide soft capsules October 20, Henmi; Yoshiyasu Henmi , et al. [33]
1987 (Tokyo, JP), Terada;
Takashi (Yono, JP),
Suzuki; Masaru
(Tokyo, JP),
Ninomiya; Hiroshi
(Sayama, JP)
US 4,609,403 Foam soft gelatin September 2, Wittwer; Fritz Wittwer , et al. [34]
capsules and their 1986 (Lupsingen, CH),
method of manufacture Mayer; Jean-
Philippe (Colmar,
FR)
US 4,597,885 Encapsulated foaming July 1, 1986 Berry; Ira R.
bath composition (Westfield, NJ), Berry , et al. [35]
Shah; Dilip
(Parsippany, NJ),
Borkan; Lionel
(New Vernon, NJ)
US 4,486,412 Encapsulated antacid December 4, Shah; Dilip Shah , et al. [36]
dispersions 1984 (Parsippany, NJ),
Borkan; Lionel
(New Vernon, NJ),
Berry; Ira R.
(Westfield, NJ)
US 4002718 Gelatin-encapsulated January 11, Gardella; Libero A. Gardella , et al. [37]
digoxin solutions and 1977 (Libertyville, IL),
method of preparing the Kesler; Helen
same (Barrington, IL)

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 Garg Deepak etal, Soft Gelatin Capsules: Development, Applications And Recent Patents

REFERENCES: 12. Gershanik T and Benita S. Self-

1. Lachman Leon, Lieberman Herbert dispersing lipid formulations for
A., et al “The Theory and Practice of improving oral absorption of
Industrial Pharmacy” 3rd edition, lipophilic drugs. European Journal of
reprint1991, Published by Varghese Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
publishing house, Dadar Bombay, PP 2000, 50: 179-188
398. 13. Martins GZ, Souza CRF, Shankar TJ
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International Research Journal of Inventions in Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol 2 Issue 3 173

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