1.

Introduction
1.1 What is a capsule?
The capsule, at the present day, is a commonly used pharmaceutical solid dosage form which comprises of an inert, glossy container filled with medicinal substance. The capsule is widely used due to its advantage in terms of production, versatility and consumer preference. Capsules have simpler manufacturing process and requires less adjuncts as compared to tablets, hence capsule production is more economical. As a versatile container, the capsule can be filled with the drug by itself or in combination with other drugs and it can contain any kind of formulations which includes granules, powders, liquid and semi-solid. The capsule shell offers protection from light should it be opacified or coloured an Also, capsule can greatly improve patient compliance by its attractive appearance, ability to mask tastes and odours as well as easy swallowing. (Capsugel bronchure) The invention of this much used medicine container dates back to the early 19th century in the Europe where oleoresin of copaiba was then widely used for the treatment of venereal disease. The oleoresin of copaiba was extremely nauseating when taken but mouth and many means were attempted to cover its obnoxious taste including culinary arts. In 1834, Mr. F. A. B. Mothes invented the gelatine capsule which became the solution for taste masking by wrapping the loathsome tasting individual dose of medicine with a bland tasteless gelatine film for easy swallowing without altering its efficacy. Capsule quickly gained recognition worldwide for its taste masking properties and attempts to overcome Mothes original patent were intense which led to the quest for gelatine alternative and the development of hard capsules by J. C. Lehuby in 1846. This results in the diversity of capsule forms. (Podczeck & Jones, 2004) Despite its assortment, capsules are mainly categorized into soft capsules and hard capsules. Soft capsule is a soft and elastic one-piece container, which is either seamed along its axis or seamless. On the other hand, hard capsule is a hard and rigid two-piece container, consisting of a bigger in diameter cap which fits closely over a longer in length body to form a sealed unit.

1.2 Raw Materials

Gelatine, the original raw material used by Mothes for the first capsule, is protein derived from animal skin and bones. The use of gelatine remained as the choice for capsule manufacturing till today due to its excellent properties to produce robust, flexible, high-gloss films, which readily dissolves in the stomach. (Podczeck & Jones, 2004) However, the development of gelatine alternatives is a never dying art. Other than to overcome Mothes patent, gelatine faces significant drawbacks due to controversies on its animal origin and some of its unfavourable characteristics which led to the manufacturing of the far from perfect capsules. (Ravindra et al, 2012) Major pharmacopoeia have also accepted for capsules to be made of any suitable material other than gelatine. Cellulose ethers are popularly used as gelatine alternative and one such successful example is the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules as patented by the Dow Chemical Company. HPMC capsules have less water vapour permeability and vapour as compared to gelatine capsules so it will not become brittle upon loss of moisture. In addition, HPMC capsules are able to withstand stressful

storage conditions and machinability. (Rabadiya, 2013) HPMC capsules are mostly used for nutraceutical products. Starch capsules Starch Caps Alginate PVA & PVA Copolymer

1.3 PVA Copolymer

Solid dosage form Single-dose medicine container Latin: Capsula small box/container Inert container enclosing drug substance. Advantage Disadvantages Raw materials -Gelatin -HPMC -Starch