Development of platform technology for gastro-resistant soft gel capsules by using the cross-linking technique

Abstract

Conventional enteric coating is very challenging in soft gel capsules because of shell nature (smooth surfaces and elasticity). Soft gelatin capsules are highly sensitive to temperature, humidity and it can lose their tensile strength during the conventional coating process. Enteric soft gel capsules were prepared by addition of enteric polymer in the gelatin shell composition by inducing the cross linking of gelatin through chemical treatment. This dual approach makes the soft gelatin capsules to resist the drug release in stomach and reliably release their contents in the intestine within a predetermined time without affecting the physical properties of soft gel capsules. Enteric effect of soft gel capsules are brought by a specialized synergetic technique which is unique for the molecules which need intestinal drug release.