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Pullulan is a natural water-soluble polysaccharide, produced from starch by
fermentation. Available as a white powder it is odorless, flavorless, and
highly stable. Pullulan consists of maltotriose units linked through α 1,6- glucosidic bonds.
Pullulan has many proven uses in the pharmaceutical industry:
Non-animal capsules
Tabletting Excipient
Tablet coating
Powder agglomeration
Non-animal capsules
Pullulan is used by Capsugel to manufacture NPcaps™ an all-natural,
two-piece non-animal capsule suitable for addressing a variety of cultural
and dietary requirements, including those of vegetarians, diabetics and
patients with restricted diets.
Pullulan is very stable and well-characterized, and has achieved wide regulatory
acceptance with its proven safety record. It has been in commercial production
for more than 25 years, having numerous uses in the food and pharmaceutical
industries.
Capsugel offers its high-performing NPcaps capsules when a non-animal, all
natural capsule is preferred.
Perfectly Suited for Pharmaceutical Applications
NPcaps are designed to support non-animal formulation initiatives,
as well as address patients’ dietary and cultural requirements. Made
from all natural pullulan, NPcaps offer similar stability, dissolution and
disintegration, machinability, appearance and manufacturing dimensions as
Capsugel’s popular Coni-Snap® gelatin capsules.
Chemical Stability
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Non-cross-linking |
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Compatible with all major excipients, including:
lactose, maize starch, sorbitol, magnesium stearate, pre-gelatinized
starch, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose |
Mechanical Stability
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Similar to gelatin, moisture
control assures flexibility of the capsule shell
- Studies show 0% broken capsules at standard manufacturing
conditions (50% RH) |
Dissolution
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In vivo studies confirm that
disintegration occurs quickly in the stomach, similar to gelatin |
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In vitro studies with acetaminophen closely
match the dissolution profile of gelatin across the entire pH range |
Machinability
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NPcaps capsule dimensions are
identical to gelatin |
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Machinability tests have been successfully
conducted with major CFM manufacturers |
Appearance
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Side by side, gelatin and NPcaps
are virtually identical and utilize similar colorants |
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To assure patient compliance, NPcaps capsules
match the look and feel of gelatin, with the same lusterous sheen
and smooth capsule surface |
The Natural Balance Between Health and Technology
With the trend moving towards healthier lifestyles, consumers
are becoming more and more selective. That’s why Capsugel is one
step ahead of the development curve with NPcaps – a highly effective
encapsulation option for dietary supplement products.
NPcaps are odorless, tasteless, and completely biodegradable two-piece
capsules made from the completely natural, vegetable-derived polysaccharide,
pullulan. Because pullulan is the capsule material most impermeable to
oxygen transmission, NPcaps are highly recommended for encapsulating oxidation-sensitive
ingredients to provide enhanced protection.
For more information on NPcaps, visit Capsugel’s web site at www.capsugel.com
Tabletting Excipient
Granular pullulan can be used as a tabletting excipient to improve the
tabletting performance of excipients and actives.
Tablet Coating
Pan coating performance can be improved by using ingredients that improve
adhesion and shine without increasing the viscosity of the coating syrup. In these respects Pullulan with its excellent adhesive properties and extremely low viscosity is ideally suited for tablet coating. When used in a base coat Pullulan provides improved coating adhesion compared to gum arabic.
When used in a top coat, Pullulan’s adhesive properties significantly
increases the strength and resilience of the coating reducing damage during
transport and distribution.
Powder Agglomeration
Pullulan has approximately double the adhesive strength of food starch. This property
combined with its lack of flavor enables it to be used effectively in
typical agglomeration processes.
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