Description of alginate sphere seamless soft capsules

1. Alginate soft capsule
Appearance: spherical, smooth and uniform with diameter of 1-10 mm, oil based core
(non-water soluble liquid) within the capsule comprise at least 80% by weight of the
capsule, shell of the capsule is alginate gel. Diagram is showing below.
Alginate capsules making process is showing below.
Samples picture (colored samples and non-colored samples)

2. Overview:
Patent (publication number: CN101564667) of alginate soft capsules used novel
material and novel technology. It is safer for consumer (all ingredient of the capsule
are non-animal based materials), more stable during shelf life (stable in boiling water)
and cheaper than gelatin soft capsules (cost of the capsules is less than one third of
gelatin soft capsules). Shell of the capsules will turn into alginic acid in stomach
under the effect of gastric acid which can protect the Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredient in the core from decomposing by gastric acid. In intestine, shell of the
capsules will turn into soluble sodium alginate or potassium alginate when meet with
sodium or potassium ion then release the API in the core. Detailed releasing profile is
related with the shell thickness, alginate molecular weight and other facts. The patent
is suitable for different kinds of API soft capsule. Moreover, it can be used in the field
of food and industry due to its perfect safety, stability and low-costing.
Specialty:
※Alginate, the major material of the shell, is extracted from algae which is
cheap and used in food and drug for many years. It is full of human necessary
microelement and used as health food in many countries.
※ The capsule is very stable. A tested sample with volatile flavor dissolved in
the core maintains its flavor concentration after storage for one year and can be tasted
its flavor after three years. There is no observable change on the capsules after storage
for three months under 50℃ and 80% RH.
※ Shell of the capsule comprise at most 15% by weight of the capsule which
can improve the loading capacity of the API within the capsule.
※ The making process of alginate capsules is similar to dripping pills which
have applied in pharmaceutical industry for long time. It is very easy to produce
alginate capsules with different diameter just change the diameter of the dropper.
Capsules with diameter less than 2mm, or even 0.5mm, can be made using a nozzle
instead of dropper. Capsules with diameter more than 7mm, or even 12mm, can be
made using a quantified pump instead of dropper.
※ The release of the API can be adjusted by different way which is suitable for
different API target to different location. The capsule is not soluble in stomach and
water which means it is suitable for non-acid-proof API or complex mixture API with
hygroscopic ingredient.
※ Alginate is chemical inert and can not react with the API in the core
chemically or physically.
※ Alginates shell with little water content has antibiotic property which means it
is no need or less need for preservatives.
※ All ingredient of the capsule are non-animal based materials which is suitable
for muslim and vegetarian consumer, and there is no danger from animal infectious
disease.
※ There is no need for expensive equipment, organic solvent and toxic material
during large-scale produce. The making-process is environment friendly and no
rubbish produced. There is no need for any equipment if daily yield less than 10

3. million capsules. The cost of production line for more than 100 million capsules per
day is less than 100,000 USD.
Contact me to: zhangwh_hn@hotmail.com