Capsule shell

• US 5,756,123 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shionogi Qualicaps Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Elanco Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsuura, Seinosuke, Akai, Kazukiyo, Yamamoto, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hulina, Amy
• Application Number:
  US08/797,622
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 424/451, 424/494, 424/452, 424/455
• US Class Current: 424/451
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4816 Wall or shell material

Abstract

A capsule shell comprising 79.6-98.7% by weight of a hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, 0.03-0.5% by weight of carrageenan, and 0.14-3.19% by weight of a potassium ion and/or a calcium is prepared by drying an solution comprising 18-28% by weight of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose whose 2% aqueous solution has a viscosity of 2.4-5.4 centistokes at 20° C. as a base, 0.01-0.09% by weight of carrageenan as a gelling agent, and 0.05-0.6% by weight of a potassium ion and/or calcium ion as a co-gelling agent. The capsule shell exhibits disintegrating ability equivalent to gelatin shells without degrading that ability even under special conditions containing much calcium ions.

Claims

1. A capsule shell comprising 79.6 to 98.7% by weight of a hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, 0.03 to 0.5% by weight of carrageenan, and 0.14 to 3.19% by weight of a potassium ion and/or a calcium ion,

said capsule shell being prepared by drying an aqueous solution comprising 18 to 28% by weight of hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose having a viscosity of 2.4 to 5.4 centistokes as measured in a 2% aqueous solution at 20°

C. as a base, 0.01 to 0.09% by weight of carrageenan as a gelling agent, and 0.05 to 0.6% by weight of at least one ion selected from the group consisting of potassium and calcium ions as a co-gelling agent.

2. The capsule shell of claim 1 Which comprises 1 to 8% by weight of water.

3. The capsule shell of claim 1 wherein said carrageenan gelling agent is κ

-carrageenan and the co-gelling agent is a potassium ion.

4. The capsule shell of claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is 3.0 to 4.6 centistokes as measured in a 2% aqueous solution at 20°

C.

5. The capsule shell of claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the aqueous solution is 500 to 3000 centistokes at 54°

C.

7. The capsule shell of claim 1 which has a thickness of 0.1 mm and has an opening time within 4 minutes when immersed in an aqueous solution of 0.1M potassium chloride at 37°

C.

8. The capsule shell of claim 7 wherein the opening time is within 2-2/1 minutes when immersed in an aqueous solution of 0.1M potassium chloride at 37°

C.

6. A capsule shell comprising 79.8 to 98.7% by weight of a hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, 0.14 to 0.38% by weight of carrageenan, and 0.17 to 0.5% by weight of a potassium ion and/or a calcium ion,

said capsule shell being prepared by drying an aqueous solution comprising 19 to 25% by weight of hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose having a viscosity of 2-4 to 5.4 centistokes as measured in a 2% aqueous solution at 20°

C. as a base, 0.05 to 0.07% by weight of carrageenan as a gelling agent, and 0.06 to 0.1% by weight of at least one ion selected from the group consisting of potassium and calcium ions as a co-gelling agent.