What materials are capsule shells made of?

What materials are capsule shells made of?
Currently, there are two main types of capsule shells on the market: soft capsule shells and hard capsule shells. Both are primarily made of food-grade pharmaceutical gelatin, starch, etc. The main components are roughly similar, and both are materials that the human body can absorb and are harmless. Capsule shells are widely used in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.

Hard capsule shells are primarily made from food-grade pharmaceutical gelatin, processed with auxiliary materials. Edible gelatin itself is a water-soluble protein extracted from collagen, which is the main natural protein component in connective tissue. Medical empty hard capsule shells are mainly used to contain solid powder and granular drugs, offering good bioavailability and dissolving quickly, reliably, and safely. Capsule shells also address the problem of difficult-to-swallow and unpleasant-tasting medications for patients.

Soft capsule shells are made from capsule-grade gelatin, glycerin, or other suitable pharmaceutical excipients, either alone or in combination. Soft capsules are a type of capsule preparation made by sealing liquid or semi-solid drugs in a soft capsule shell.