|  Although described as a second edition, this volume is a completely
rethought production of ‘Hard capsules’, published in 1987.
The present editors (who between them also contributed seven of the 13
chapters) have ensured a comprehensive coverage of the subject.
The introductory chapter on the history of pharmaceutical capsules reveals
the various factors directing the development of the dosage form, from
the design of the capsule itself, through needs to circumvent earlier
patents, to the nature of the source of gelatin in the light of the bovine
spongiform encephalopathy saga.
Subsequent chapters cover the technical aspects of design and manufacture
of both hard and soft capsules, and there is a useful and informative
chapter on drug release, emphasising that the science of capsule design
draws on the understanding of the properties of the capsule material,
the physical chemistry of the content (particle size, solubility) and
the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. A final chapter reviews
the pharmacopoeial and industrial standards for capsules.
References given tend to be specific to a point being made, rather than
being comprehensive, the editors recognising that comprehensive bibliographies
can nowadays be turned up by a suitable search engine.
Overall the volume can be considered an up-to-date and thorough review
of the subject. And, from personal experience, I can assure the editors
that the story of the patient who emptied the first capsules he ever
saw, before taking the contents, is not apocryphal.
Joseph Chamberlain
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal