Vegetarian Capsule Shell Integrity with Supercritical Herbal Extracts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vegetarian non-GMO capsule shells often crack when filled with supercritical herbal extracts, leading to leakage and stability issues during storage and shelf life, making it difficult to maintain the integrity of the supplement and meet non-GMO Project Standards.
Innovation Solution
A capsule shell composition of gellan gum and HPMC with a fill phase containing beeswax, candelilla wax, and a supercritical extract of an herb, where the supercritical extract of ginger is less than 10% of the fill phase, and the capsule volume is greater than 0.61 mL, ensuring the capsule meets non-GMO Project Standards and maintains stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If supercritical herbal extracts are used to create highly concentrated supplements, then the convenience and potency of the supplement is improved, but the capsule shells crack and leak during storage
Solution Approach 1:
A coating composition comprising a film-forming polymer and a plasticizer is applied as an intermediary layer between the supercritical herbal extract fill and the vegetarian capsule shell. This coating acts as a mediator that prevents direct harmful interaction between the extract and shell materials, thereby preventing cracking while maintaining the high concentration benefits of the supercritical extract.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effect of supercritical herbal extracts on vegetarian capsule shells is converted into a benefit by applying a protective coating. The coating composition is specifically designed to be compatible with both the extract and shell materials, transforming the potential damage into a stable, crack-free capsule structure that maintains integrity during storage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vegetarian capsule shells are used to meet dietary requirements, then the product meets vegetarian standards, but the shells are damaged by supercritical extracts
Solution Approach 1:
The coating composition serves as a protective intermediary that allows vegetarian capsule shells to be used with supercritical herbal extracts without damage. The film-forming polymer and plasticizer create a barrier that prevents the extract from interacting with and damaging the vegetarian shell materials, thus maintaining both vegetarian compliance and shell integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution employs composite material strategy by combining the vegetarian capsule shell material with a specially formulated coating composition. This composite structure integrates the benefits of vegetarian materials with the protective properties of the coating, creating a multi-layer system that resists damage from supercritical extracts.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple capsules are taken to achieve desired supplement dosage, then the total supplement amount is sufficient, but the regimen becomes inconvenient and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameter of the supplement by using supercritical fluid extraction technology. This process produces highly concentrated extracts that allow the desired supplement dosage to be achieved in a single capsule rather than requiring multiple capsules, thereby improving convenience and ease of administration while maintaining adequate total dosage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution prevents cracking of the capsule shells, ensuring at least 98% pass the Cracking Test, maintaining the integrity of the fill phase and meeting non-GMO Project Standards, thus providing a stable and convenient vegetarian supplement.
Implementation Method 1
a supercritical extract of ginger and the supercritical extract of ginger is less than 10% of the fill phase
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule with a shell and a fill phase. The fill phase contains less than about 5% beeswax by weight of the capsule and a supercritical extract of an herb. The capsule can be both vegetarian and meet the non-GMO Project Standard.