Abstract:
A treatment process is disclosed for gelatin-containing or proteinaceous capsule wall materials and films wherein the capsules and films which include the proteinaceous materials therein are soaked or steeped in aqueous citrate solutions for extended periods of time. The citrate treatment of this invention serves to harden the capsule wall or film material in such a way as to render it water insoluble. In various embodiments of the treatment, a final capsule or film process step is included, said step differing as to the desired or required intended use of the citrate-treated films or capsule wall material. The treated films or capsule walls can be used without drying, by drying only or by drying only and then subjecting the films or capsule walls to an aging process. The treated films or capsule walls can also be finished by drying and then subjecting them to a desiccation step similar to the aging step but under different conditions.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for treating proteinaceous films or preformed capsule walls with proteolytic enzymes to afford coldwater solubility. According to the process of this invention, preformed films or capsule walls are partially degraded enzymatically, in an aqueous vehicle, to such a degree that the degraded proteinaceous material is rendered soluble in cold water at some desired or required temperature of use. Such treatment of already made films or capsule walls is contrasted with enzymatic treatment of proteins before manufacture of the films or capsule walls themselves.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for performing encapsulation, en masse, in an aqueous liquid vehicle, wherein two kinds of hydrophilic polymeric material are sequentially deposited from solution onto particles of intended capsule core entities. The two kinds of hydrophilic polymeric wall materials, while individually and sequentially deposited from solution by liquid-liquid phase separation, also yield a middle-zone wherein the two kinds of material are present in a mixed combination. A preferred capsule product of this disclosed process comprises: substantially water insoluble capsule core material; polyvinyl alcohol inner capsule wall material; polyvinyl alcohol-gelatin middle-zone wall; and gelatin outer capsule wall material.