SEAMLESS ALGINATE CAPSULES

摘要

The present invention is directed to a dried seamless capsule comprising an alginate shell membrane encapsulating fill material, wherein: (i) said alginate shell membrane comprises a polyvalent metal ion alginate having: (a) an average M content of from 50%-62% by weight based on the weight of the M and G content, and (b) a viscosity of 35 to 80 cps when measured as a monovalent metal ion alginate in a 3.5% water solution at 20 ?C using a Brookf?eld LV viscometer at 60 rpm and spindle #1; (ii) said alginate shell membrane encapsulates an oil present in an amount of at least 50% by weight of said fill material; (iii) said dried seamless capsule has a disintegration time of less than 12 minutes in an intestinal buffer after pretreatment for 20 minutes in a solution of 0.1 M NaCl and HCl, pH of 3, at 37 ?C; and (iv) said dried seamless capsule has a dry break force strength of at least 7kg. The present invention is also directed to methods of making and using such dried seamless capsules.