• 약학회지
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.70-76
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• 2015

A Softgel is an oral dosage form for medicine similar to capsules and softgel dosage form offers several advantages over other oral dosage forms, such as delivering a liquid matrix designed to solubilize and improve the oral bioavailability of a poorly soluble compound as a unit dose solid dosage form, delivering low and ultra-low doses of a compound. This study aimed to qualify a proprietary vegetable soft capsule which contains modified starch and carrageenan as capsule shell components compare to the conventional gelatin softgel. Four kinds of samples were prepared with vegetable and gelatin capsule shell, respectively. Morphology of capsule shell, mechanical strength of capsule, and hygroscopic properties were studied for comparing the quality attributes of softgel. Short-term stability against heat and moisture was also investigated in this study. Vegetable capsule shell showed better mechanical strength, physical stability and disintegration time for temperature and humidity than those of conventional gelatin capsule shell with four different filling materials used frequently as soft capsule form. Conclusively, this vegetable capsule shell polymer system can replace easily gelatin-shell systems and additionally allows encapsulation of lipid fills at high temperatures that are semisolid or solid-like at room temperature.

• 한국포장학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 2016

Gelatin soft capsules, manufactured by the press through package(PTP) process, are widely used in the production of multivitamin dietary supplements and other health functional foods. Gelatin capsules can prevent light and air from having a direct contact with the contents in the capsule, and the nutrients inside the capsules are preserved without any loss. In the present study, on the basis of the results on the safety of gelatin capsules. The parameters investigated included degradation of the capsules before their shelf life, capsule deformation, and changes in specific nutrients. Moisture and heat in the production and storage environments of the capsules caused the gelatin to swell and attach some of the inorganic salts in the vitamin contents. Nutritional component analysis showed that B1, B5, B9, and B12 contents were decreased, while mineral elemental analysis shown calcium, chloride, and zinc compound were found to be infused into the gelatin of the capsule shell.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.25-28
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• 1994

The previous vitamin assays in soft capsules have been performed only with capsule contents. Since some vitamins, however, could migrate into gelatin layer of the soft capsules, each vitamin of multivitamin soft capsules in the market was analyzed simultaneously in both capsule content and gelatin layer. The results showed that migrations of nicotinamide and pyridoxine hydrochloride into gelatin layer were pronounced, while those of other vitamins were negligible.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 1992

This study was carried out for the purpose of developing an effective temazepam soft elastic gelatin capsule (softgel) which exhibits an excellent bioavailability and of comparing the rate and extent of absorption of temazepam from the marked elixir and prepared softgel using hydrophilic liquid such as polyethylene glycol 400 as a suspending agent by rotary die method. Both softgel and elixir containing 3 mg of temazepam were given to 7 healthy male New Zealand White rabbits in a single oral dose cross-over study. Plasma temazepam concentrations were measured by HPLC. The mean peak concentrations of temazepam following a single oral dosing as softgel and elixir dosage form were 13.84 and 13.25 ng/ml, respectively. And the mean time to peak concentration was 1.29 hr for the softgel and 1.07 hr for the elixir. There was no significant difference in the extent of drug absorption (AUC) for the two different dosage froms (p>0.05). While the softgel exhibited mean lag time of 0.63 hr, the elixir did not show any lag time. Statistical moment parameters such as the mean residence time and variance of the mean residence time did not differ significantly for the two formulations.

• 약학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.598-603
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of three formulations; product A (polyethylene glycol was used as a main dispersing agent), product B (wax mixture was used as a main dispersing agent) and product C(silicon dioxide was used as a main dispersing agent) on bioavailability of acetaminophen soft gelatin capsules(softgels) and to develop an effective acetaminophen softgel which exhibits an excellent bioavailability. Acetaminophen softgels of various formulations were prepared as 4 minim round type by rotary die method. Four softgels of the three formulation (A, B, C), each of which contained 50 mg acetaminophen, were administered orally to 12 normal healthy rabbits using a three-way cross over design. Plasma acetaminophen concentrations were measured by HPLC. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. The Tmax rank order of acetaminophen softgel was C$(63.75{\pm}10.62\;min)$>A$(36.25{\pm}5.37\;min)$>B$(35{\pm}6.74\;min)$. 2. The decreasing Cmax order of softgel product was A$(93.51{\pm}0.55\;{\mu}g/ml)$>B$(3.16{\pm}0.37\;{\mu}g/ml)$>C$(2.6{\pm}0.55\;{\mu}g/ml)$. 3. The $[AUC]^{\infty}_0$ rank order for three acetaminophen softgel formulations was A $(14.89{\pm}1.56\;{\mu}g/ml{\cdot}min)$ >B$(14.39{\pm}1.43\;{\mu}g/ml{\cdot}min)$>C$(11.45{\pm}1.49\;{\mu}g/ml{\cdot}min)$. 4. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as Tmax, Cmax and $[AUC]^{\infty}_0$ of product A and B did not differ significantly(p>0.05). On the other hand, those of product C were significantly different(p>0.05).

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.312.1-312.1
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• 2003

Silybin is the main component of Cardus marianus extracts (Silymarin) originated from Silybum marianum, called as milk thistle. It has a hepato-protective effect and is used clinically for the treatment of liver disease. But it is water-insoluble and is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in very low oral bioavailability. Polymeric mixed-micelle precursor formulation containing surfactants, co-solvents, and block-co polymers with Cardus marianus extracts was made to enhance the dissolution rate of silybin and encapsulated with soft gelatin capsule. (omitted)

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2002

A self-microemulsifying drug delivery system(SMEDDS) composed of Cremophor $EL^{\circledR},\;Labrasol^{circledR}$, and Lauroglycol $FCC^{circledR}$ was prepared for the enhancement of solubility, dissolution rate and bioavailability of ibuprofen(IBP), which is water-insoluble but soluble in oils and surfactants. Phase diagram with various regions including microemulsion area was depicted. The SMEDDS was encapsulated in soft gelatin capsules and their dissolution characteristics in various media were observed in comparison to the generic products commercially available in the market. Soft capsules of SMEDDS formulation showed better dissolution profiles, especially in acidic condition, than the others. For the period of 1 hr dissolution in pH 1.2 medium, it reached over 70% dissolution from soft capsules, compared to less than 40% dissolution from commercial reference tablets. On the other hand, in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained after oral administrations of different IBP preparations to Sprague Dawley rats. SMEDDS formulation showed higher $C_{max}$ and greater $AUC_{0-5hr}$ than the suspension of reference tablet or IBP powder. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that a newly developed soft capsules employing SMEDDS provides an alternative preparation to improve oral bioavailability of IBP.