Abstract
A new crosslinking formulation using gelatin (G) and cactus mucilage (CM) biopolymers was developed, physicochemically characterized and proposed as an alternative wall material to traditional gelatin capsules (softgels). The effect of G concentration at different G/CM ratios (3:1, 1:1 and 1:3) was analyzed. Transparency, moisture content (MC), solubility in water (SW), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), vibrational characterization (Fourier transform infrared, FTIR), color parameters (CIELab) and thermal (differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis, DSC/TGA) properties of the prepared composite (CMC) capsules were estimated and compared with control (CC) capsules containing only G and glycerol. In addition, the dietary fiber (DF) content was also evaluated. Our results showed that the transparency of composite samples decreased gradually with the presence of CM, the G/CM ratio of 3:1 being suitable to form the softgels. The addition of CM decreased the MC, the SW and the lightness of the capsules. Furthermore, the presence of polysaccharide had significant effects on the morphology and thermal behavior of CMC in contrast to CC. FTIR spectra confirmed the CMC formation by crosslinking between CM and G biopolymers. The addition of CM to the softgels formulation influenced the DF content. Our findings support the feasibility of developing softgels using a formulation of CM and G as wall material with nutritional properties.
Highlights
Soft gelatin capsules, better known as softgels, have become one of the most specialized delivery systems used in the pharmaceutical and food industries for the safe supply of dietary nutrients, cosmetics and medicines to humans and animals
The cactus mucilage (CM) used in this study was extracted from cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica, obtained from local farmers in the municipality of Duitama (Boyacá, Colombia), following the methodology reported by Quinzio, Corvalán, Lopez and Iturriaga [47] and used as obtained without further purification
The present study contributes in the promotion of cladode mucilage as an alternative source of raw material for the manufacture of soft capsules with a reduced content of animal-derived gelatin, which constitutes a current topic of interest for the food and pharmaceutical industries
Summary
Better known as softgels, have become one of the most specialized delivery systems used in the pharmaceutical and food industries for the safe supply of dietary nutrients, cosmetics and medicines to humans and animals. Softgels allow the reliable supply of liquid and semisolid dosages of bioactive compounds, due to the excellent hermeticity of their walls—which avoids the contact of their contents with light and oxygen—and their easy dissolution in biological fluids at body temperature [1]. They are widely used as an oral administration form of drugs and vitamins, as well as suppositories (rectal or vaginal) for medicine dosage. New trends in the food and pharmaceutical industry focus on the study of new capsules (soft and hard) composed of non-gelatin polymers, where the gelatin is partially or totally replaced, and which exhibit specific functionalities
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