By preventing troublesome cross-linking, gelatin enables pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers to ensure the stability of soft capsules in the Asia-Pacific market.
In the next five years, the softgel market will usher in rapid growth, and the Asia-Pacific region will lead the trend. The softgel market in the region is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.6% annually until 2027, with stronger growth expected in countries such as India and China.
Soft capsules have several advantages that drive their widespread use. They feature a fully sealed design, making them airtight. Not only does this help protect sensitive ingredients, it also makes it an easy-to-swallow delivery format, especially for fillings that don't taste good. Softgels also offer greater dosing accuracy compared to other formats.
However, despite these advantages, softgels still face a major issue threatening their growth in Asia Pacific: the impact of heat and humidity on product stability. High temperature and humidity can adversely affect the stability of soft capsules, which may hamper their growth in Asia Pacific.
Molecular interactions
Heat and humidity provide optimal conditions for crosslinking of the gelatin shell. Crosslinking occurs when protein molecules in the shell interact with compounds containing reactive molecules such as aldehydes, ketones, terpenes, and peroxides. These substances are commonly found in fruits and herbal flavorings and extracts. At the same time, they may also be caused by oxidation or metal elements (such as iron) contained in the shell pigment. Over time, cross-linking can lead to decreased solubility of the capsules, resulting in longer dissolution times in the gastrointestinal tract and slower release of the filler.
Blocking interaction
The pharmaceutical industry has developed additives that reduce crosslinking to varying degrees. We took a different approach to this problem and developed a gelatin grade that essentially protects itself from crosslinking. Because it can make gelatin lose its ability to interact with reactive molecules. This is a game-changing innovation breakthrough for companies operating in the Asia-Pacific region as it extends product shelf life and ensures reliable filler release in hot and humid conditions.
The Asia-Pacific market offers attractive development potential for soft capsules, but climatic conditions may act as a barrier to market entry. By solving the problem of cross-linking, Gelken gelatin overcomes this obstacle.
If you have any needs, please feel free to contact the Gelken team!
Post time: Aug-25-2023
