Film forming compositions comprising modified starches and iota-carrageenan and methods for manufacturing soft capsules using same

• US 6,340,473 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Catalent Pharma Solutions Incorporated (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent Pharma Solutions Limited (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent USA Packaging LLC (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent USA Paintball, Inc. (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent USA Woodstock, Inc. (Catalent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RP Scherer Technologies Incorporated (Catalent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burnett, Stephen W., Getz, John J., Youngblood, Elizabeth, Tanner, Keith Edward, Draper, Peter Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Spear, James M.
• Application Number:
  US09/608,853
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 424/451, 424/452, 424/453, 424/454, 424/455, 424/489, 424/490
• US Class Current: 424/451
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4816 Wall or shell material

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions comprising a modified starch and a carrageenan, especially iota-carrageenan, where the compositions are suitable for use in manufacturing soft capsules.

Claims

1. An edible, soft capsule which comprises a soft, dry shell which comprises:

(v) about 12-24 weight % iota-carrageenan;

(vi) about 30-60 weight % modified starch;

(vii) about 10-60 weight % plasticizer;

(viii) about 1-4 weight % sodium phosphate dibasic buffer system; and

wherein said shell encloses a soft capsule fill material.

2. A soft capsule according to claim 1 wherein the plasticizer is comprised of glycerin or sorbitol or a mixture thereof and the modified starch is selected from the group consisting of modified corn starch, acid modified hydroxypropylated corn starch and hydroxypropylated acid modified tapioca starch.