Bulk enteric capsule shells

1. An aqueous capsule shell composition comprising

a dispersion of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) polymer dispersed in water, wherein the polymer is partially neutralized with at least one alkaline material,

a thermogelling agent that undergoes a thermal gelation at an elevated temperature of from about 30° C. to about 80° C.,

the thermogelling agent comprising a poloxamer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), ethyl cellulose (EC), chitosan, or a mixture thereof, the poloxamer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), ethyl cellulose (EC), chitosan, or a mixture thereof present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition,

wherein the total amount of thermogelling agent is present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition

and wherein the aqueous composition comprises two phases, and one of the phases consists of solid particles of HPMCAS having an average diameter ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 microns.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one alkaline material is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, cationic polymers, and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one dispersant in an amount ranging from about 0.5% to about 2% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition.

4. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one dispersant comprises nonionic emulsifiers or surfactants.

5. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the dispersant is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan polyoxyethylene ester, sorbitan monoesters, glyceryl esters, and mixtures thereof.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one film forming aid.

7. The composition according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one film forming aid is selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, surfactants, structuring agents, rheology modifiers, mineral charges, and mixtures thereof.

8. The composition according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one film forming aid is selected from the group consisting of triethyl citrate, acetyl trialkyl citrate, triacetine, alkyl phthalate, cellulosic derivatives, polyvinyl acetate derivatives, polysaccharides, glyceryl esters, glycol esters, sorbitan monoesters, sorbitan polyoxyethylene esters, sucrose esters, polyoxyethylene ethers, glycerol, polyethylene glycols, polyols, fatty acid esters, glycerol polyethylene, glycol ricinoleate, macrogolglycerides, sodium lauryl sulfate, silica, and mixtures thereof.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable or food acceptable colouring agent.

10. A dip-moulding process for the manufacture of bulk enteric hard capsule shells, comprising:

providing an aqueous composition according to claim 1 , the aqueous composition further comprising a dispersant,

adjusting the aqueous composition to a temperature (T3) ranging from about 30° C. to about 80° C.;

pre-heating capsule moulding pins to a dipping temperature (T4) ranging from about 5° C. to about 30° C.;

dipping the pre-heated moulding pins into the aqueous composition forming a film on said moulding pins by withdrawing said pins from said aqueous composition; and

drying the film on the moulding pins to form bulk enteric hard capsule shells.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the moulding pins are dipped only once in the aqueous composition.

12. The process according to claim 10 , further comprising filling the hard capsule shells with at least one active ingredient.

13. An aqueous capsule shell composition comprising

a dispersion of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) polymer in water,

wherein the polymer is partially neutralized with ammonia, and the amount of ammonia is less than about 2 wt % of the amount of HPMCAS polymer present in the aqueous composition,

a thermogelling agent comprising hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition,

wherein the total amount of thermogelling agent is present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, and

wherein the aqueous composition comprises two phases, and one of the phases consists of solid particles of HPMCAS having an average diameter ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 microns.

14. An aqueous capsule shell composition comprising:

a dispersion comprising two phases, and

one of the phases consists of solid particles of partially neutralized hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) polymer dispersed in water, the solid particles having an average diameter ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 microns, and

wherein the HPMCAS polymer is partially neutralized with at least one alkaline material; and

hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as a thermogelling agent present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition,

wherein the total amount of thermogelling agent is present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition.

15. An aqueous capsule shell composition comprising

a dispersion comprising solid particles of partially neutralized hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) polymer dispersed in water,

wherein the solid particles have an average diameter ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 microns,

wherein the HPMCAS polymer is partially neutralized with

(i) ammonia in an amount up to 2 wt % ammonia based on a weight of the HPMCAS polymer present in the aqueous composition,

(ii) KOH in an amount up to 0.8 wt % KOH based on a total weight of the aqueous composition, or

(iii) a mixture of alkaline materials in a total amount of up to 0.8 wt % of KOH equivalent based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, and

a thermogelling agent that undergoes a thermal gelation at an elevated temperature of from about 30° C. to about 80° C.,

the thermogelling agent comprising a poloxamer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), ethyl cellulose (EC), chitosan or a mixture thereof present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition,

wherein the total amount of thermogelling agent is present in the aqueous composition in an amount ranging from about 1.9% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous composition.