Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Hard Capsules and Process of Manufacture

Abstract

A composition for manufacture of hard hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose capsules comprising a film forming material of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having a methoxy content of 27.0-30.0% (w/w), and a hydroxypropoxy content of 4.0-7.5% and as a 2% weight solution, a viscosity of 3.5-6.0 cPs at 20° C., dipping compositions, process for manufacture of hard hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose capsules according to a dip coating process and hard capsule shells.

1 . An aqueous composition for manufacture of hard capsules, comprising,
 in an aqueous solvent, 15-25% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, of a hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 2906 (HPMC 2906) having a methoxy content of 27.0-30.0% (w/w), a hydroxypropoxy content of 4.0-7.5% (w/w) and a viscosity of 3.5-6.0 cPs as a 2% weight solution in water at 20° C., and less than 1% of a gelling system selected from
 (i) the group consisting of at least one cation selected from the group consisting of K+, Na+, Li+, NH4 + , Ca ++ , Mg ++  and mixtures thereof and 
 (ii) at least one gelling agent selected from the group consisting of alginates, agar gum, guar gum, locust bean gum (carob), carrageenan, tara gum, gum Arabic, ghatti gum, khaya grandifolia gum, tragancanth gum, karaya gum, pectin, arabian (araban), xanthan, gellan gum, konjac mannan, galactomannan, funoran, and mixtures thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose has a viscosity of 4.0-5.0 cPs as a 2% weight solution in water at 20° C. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein 17-23% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solvent is water. 
     
     
         5 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose hard capsule shell containing a hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having a methoxy content of 27.0-30.0% (w/w), a hydroxypropoxy content of 4.0-7.5% (w/w) and a viscosity of 3.5-6.0 cPs as a 2% weight solution in water at 20° C. which is HPMC 2906 in an amount ranging from 70% to 90% by weight of the shell weight. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition contains 0% of the gelling system. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein for a concentration of HPMC of 19% (w/w) in water, the composition has a gelling temperature ranging from 30° C. to 40° C. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule shell according to  claim 14  wherein the transmittance measured by UV at 650 nm on the capsule body is 80%.