Preparation and evaluation of enteric capsules

Capsule is one of the most commonly used dosage form for drugs which are intended to take orally. Capsules are in use over 160 years. Gelatin is the major polymer used for capsule preparation which is natural polymer obtained from animal source i.e. skin and bones of pigs and cows. The usage of gelatin in capsule making is decreased due to many reasons like source of gelatin is from animals which causes mad cow disease and cross linking of gelatin with drugs which decreases the efficiency of drug. To avoid problems with gelatin, the polymers from plants like Sodium alginate is obtained from sea weed, purely as Alginic acid and then converted into sodium alginate by chemical treatment was used in the experiment to make capsules which also have enteric property to avoid dissolution of capsules in acidic pH. Carrageenan and tragacanth was used as thickening agents to improve the texture of Capsule.