KR20050023268A - Powder compaction and enrobing - Google Patents

Abstract

For example, the drug powder is pressed and coated to form a film of material, preferably hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose, preferably by mechanically compressing the powder and applying different vacuums or pressures near the surface of the compacted powder thus obtained. By pressing to prepare a compacted powder slug.

Description

Powder Compacting and Coating {POWDER COMPACTION AND ENROBING}

The present invention relates to the compaction of powders, such as powders containing drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and the like, wherein the compacted powders are in the ratio of biodegradable and / or water-soluble films such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and the like. It is coated with a gelatin film to produce encapsulated bodies of compacted powders suitable for example for human intake formulations. The present invention is applicable to all related formulations, including tablets, but generally all of these forms will be referred to herein simply as capsules.

Tablets are a common form of formulation, and various means for improving the properties of such tablets have been studied. Recent methods for coating tablets, such as pharmaceutical tablets, include the use of acelacoaters or pan coaters that spray low molecular weight HPMCs onto tablets to provide an opaque, less glossy but uniform and smooth surface layer. . It is possible to emboss on a tablet. However, the tablet coating method is time consuming and requires a high level of expertise to obtain satisfactory results. Manufacturing composites such as tablet bonding are common, in which two tablets are attached to each other during a spray coating operation. In addition to these problems, it is necessary to compress the tablets under relatively high pressure so as not to collapse during the coating process. Such high compression can adversely affect the rate of disintegration and degradation of the active ingredient contained in the capsule. For example, it results in a delay in drug release to the patient, while the tablet slowly disintegrates in the patient's stomach.

An alternative to spray coating or pan coating is to use two hard capsules. These capsules are produced by dipping, typically producing encapsulated capsules by producing half shells that are engaged using HPMC solutions. Such capsules will typically interfere with the overlap meshing process because they are opaque but glossy and do not have any form of embossment. The nature of the capsule is that there is always an air layer above the powder filling level. In addition, this limits the amount of powder that can be encapsulated as it is impossible to compact the powder into these tablets. This lack of compression results in an effective reduction of the amount of drug that can be encapsulated, for example. The presence of an air layer in the capsule and the lack of compressibility of the powder contained in the encapsulation will inevitably result in a capsule having a size larger than necessary. After the manufacture and / or distribution of the two hard capsules, there are some obvious differences in the appearance of the capsules, limiting the user that there is a possibility that the two capsules will be separated in half, their contents may be modified, and that there is something wrong with the capsules. One may find that capsules are easily and illegally damaged, as it is possible to restore two halves together again without deformation. This means that the contents may be difficult to detect damaged capsules. Since HPMC and certain other non-gelatinous materials are suitable for human ingestion, as an alternative to gelatin-based capsules, ingestibles for delivering precisely measured dosages of pharmaceutical preparations and dietary supplements in capsules for delivery by gelatin walls Potential uses as capsules have been found. Conventional tablets have already been coated. See eg WO 02/098394.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the present invention relates to a novel method of pressing and coating powders to produce capsules with improved properties.

The non-gelatin film layer is thermoformed in suitable tablet-shaped pockets under heating and / or vacuum and / or pressure conditions. A predetermined amount of powder is administered into the film forming pocket and compressed into tablet form by, for example, a piston aid or a piston. From this process a partially coated "soft" tablet is obtained. The process of raising the tablet onto the platen, which can then be covered by the second film, with the remainder of the compressed tablet, is repeated for two complete successive coatings. For example, by using a pair of slideable pistons in a cylinder, a suitable tablet shaped pocket can be made, where such piston is the upper part of the cylinder useful for cutting unnecessary excess film from (partially) coated tablets. And a pinch point between the platens.

One object of the present invention is to prepare an open identifiable capsule.

Another object of the present invention is to prepare a powder filled capsule in which the powder is coated with a material which may or may not form a 'skin tight wrap'.

Another object of the present invention is to prepare capsules having a high gloss surface, which can employ, for example, an underlying embossment to identify pharmaceutical tablets.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a capsule having a flange which is hardly discernible.

Yet another object of the present invention is to enable the preparation of formulations in a variety of shapes and sizes, including the shape and size of formulations that have not been produced or practical in the past due to process and manufacturing properties of the product.

Yet another object of the present invention is a soluble (controlled) pharmaceutical grade film or rapidly dissolving capsule molded into powder or other flowable solid material and / or pharmaceutical grade material under good conditions in compression and / or composition. To produce capsules with advantageous properties, containing encapsulation media of.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a capsule which, due to the nature of the capsule, can be easily swallowed and more easily delivered to the desired site where the active ingredient is most advantageously released.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a compaction method of powder for producing powder compacted slugs, for example, by which coating can produce capsules with improved degradability and solubility beyond typical tablets.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of making a capsule that replaces conventional tablets that have undergone compression and coating steps with a single powder coating process but can at least perform the same function as conventional coated tablets.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of making a capsule by coating powder, which, due to the manufacturing properties of the capsule, can omit certain auxiliary components required for the manufacture of conventional tablets. For example, the component to which the structural component is added in the tablet can be omitted. The reason is that the active ingredients are in the form of powder encapsulated relatively loosely compressed in the film, and these films, which are safely packaged in powder ingredients, provide integrity and form an effective formulation in separability. As such, it is possible to omit components contained in tablets designed to disperse and disintegrate tablets when the delivery site is reached. The active ingredients in the capsules of the present invention are in uncompressed or at least less compacted form than conventional tablets, and this less compression allows the active ingredients to be easily released and dispersed once the capsule film dissolves at the desired delivery site.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for coating a compacted powder, wherein the film is vacuumed in the pocket and the powder is pressed into the pocket to produce a powder slug that is partially coated in the pocket. A second film is vacuum formed on this powder slug to completely coat the powder slug to form a separable compressed powder filled capsule suitable for formulation.

In another aspect of the present invention, in order to form a compressed powder filled capsule, a method of coating the compressed powder using a film or film (stream), wherein the films or films that form the walls of the compressed powder filled capsule used herein Provided is a method of coating a pressed powder that is overlapped.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a compressed slug formation and / or coating method wherein the compaction level for the compacted powder is below the level required to reach an industry standard of separable slug of the compacted powder, referred to as tablet.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, the film is deformed according to the outer surface of the pocket and the pressed powder slug, which film effectively wraps around the powder slug to effectively form a safe capsule. Vacuum chambers or vacuum bed apparatus in which films and powders are placed in suitably shaped supports and exposed to vacuum (substantially reduced pressure) can be modified and used for this purpose. The devices can be suitably modified on the basis of a commercially available vacuum chamber or vacuum bed device. Vacuum forming techniques encapsulate the compacted powder completely within the film, resulting in a capsule containing the compacted powder, which has enhanced and controllable properties over current commercially available formulations such as conventional tablets.

The powder to be compacted is typically pressured at 5-15 Mega Pascal, but is not limited to this range. Examples of compacted and enclosed powders include paracetamol, ibuprofen, sorbitol and multivitamins. Other powder fillers contemplated are antacids, anti-inflammatory agents, antihistamine antibiotics and cholesterol lowering agents.

The film should be a material that is suitable for human consumption and has sufficient flexibility and moldability to be vacuum formable. Some film materials should have properties suitable for their original property conditions, but in general it may be necessary to pretreat the film material to be vacuum formable. For example, it may be necessary to expose the film material to a solvent. For example, certain polyvinyl alcohols (PVAs) can be vacuumed after a small amount of water is deposited on their surfaces or when exposed to high humidity conditions. In general, a more preferred possibility is to use a film of thermoplastic material (ie, a thermoformable material) that has made the film thermally softened prior to thermoforming by exposure to vacuum. Suitable thermoplastics include modified cellulose materials, in particular hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), pectin, alginate, starch and modified starch. And protein films such as soya and whey protein films. Recently preferred film material is HPMC. Suitable film materials are currently commercially available.

In the use of thermoplastic films, the film is typically heated prior to application to pockets or compressed powder slugs to make the film thermally deformable. This can be accomplished by exposing the film to a heat source such as an infrared heater, infrared lamp, hot plate hot air source, or the like. In the process, films of various thicknesses can be used for the first and second films, where the first film can be used at a temperature of about 150 degrees Celsius, and the second film can be used in the range of approximately 70-80 degrees Celsius. However, this temperature range is merely illustrative.

During the coating process, the films may preferably overlap at least 1.5 mm-2 mm. The compacted powder slugs preferably have a sidewall length of about 3 mm and can substantially completely overlap the film over the sidewall area.

The film material may comprise any colorant in the form of food dyes such as FD and C Yellow 5, such as FD and C Yellow 5, and / or any flavoring agent such as sweeteners and / or any texture, etc. have.

Film materials typically include plasticizers having the flexibility required for films within known methods. Substances used as plasticizers include alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid and salts thereof, maleic acid, benzyl alcohol, certain lactones, diacetin, triacetin, propylene glycol, glycerin or mixtures thereof. Typical thermoplastic film formulations are 77 wt% HPMC and 23 wt% plasticizer.

The thickness of the film is preferably in the appropriate film thickness, preferably in the range of 20-200 microns, advantageously 50-100 microns, such as about 80 microns, depending on factors including the size and shape of the tablet. Films of various thicknesses can be used. For example, in the first stage of the coating process, a thicker film, i.e. 125 microns thick, is used and in the second stage of the coating process, a thinner film, i.e. 80 microns thick, is used.

Due to the properties of the film forming process according to the invention under certain conditions, such as the powder to be compacted, which contains particles which are capable of penetrating the film under compression, the thickness of the film formed in the pocket (the second and It may be desirable to be thicker than the thickness of the film that can cover the residue of the pressed powder slug). Such varying thicknesses may result in some advantageous structural properties of the desired capsule. That is, capsules can generally be stronger, so they can be more safely preserved and handled (generally thicker films on the capsule), but thinner films may have a smaller area (which can result in faster release properties due to thinner films). Windows) will dissolve more quickly when exposed to a given solvent. The various film thicknesses advantageous for forming capsules with different wall thicknesses can be, for example, 70/90 micron film coordination, to produce capsules that release their contents quickly through a window of robust but thin film. have.

Thus, films of various thicknesses can be used in the coating process. For example, in the first stage of the coating process, up to 200 microns, at least 70 microns, but preferably 125 microns thick, thicker films can be used, and in the second stage of the coating process, up to 125 microns, at least 50 microns. Micron, but preferably 80 micron thick, a thinner film can be used. In the production of composite coated compacted powder slugs, the space of the compacted powder slugs may be important. If the compacted powder slugs are located too close to each other, the film cannot be fully thermoformed between them. For example, if the space between adjacent compacted powder slugs is about 4 mm, the film can fully accommodate the vertical sidewalls of the compacted slugs at a distance of about 2 mm before beginning to curve outside of the compacted powder slugs. It has been found to provide good results.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises forming two overlapping coating layers of the film on the pressed powder slugs, respectively. The method preferably forms first a film in a pocket and then presses the powder slug into a film lined pocket, thereby effectively coating / coating a substantial portion of the powder slug in the film formed in the partial capsule. Encapsulated, the compressed film slugs are uncoated and the remaining film material is for example cut and removed, and then the remaining half of the compacted powder slugs are coated and the portions of the two coating films sealed to each other overlap and the slugs are fully sealed enclosures It is desirable to provide an enclosure and then to remove the remaining uncoated film material on the slug again. Here, it may be necessary to apply an adhesive to the overlapped film coating film, for example, the surface of the film layer, in order to check whether it is effectively sealed between the overlapping film coating film and to confirm whether the resulting capsule is opened. The adhesive advantageously has the same composition as the film but contains a higher proportion of plasticizers such as 93% to 98% by weight plasticizer to provide a less viscous material. The adhesive may be applied using, for example, a roller, a spray or the like. Typical adhesive formulations are typically 4% by weight HPMC, 77% by weight lactic acid and 19% by weight water.

The compacted powder slug and capsule advantageously generally have a cylindrical side wall portion, on which the two half coatings overlap. While symmetrical round tablets with cylindrical cylindrical sidewalls are very common, other forms with common cylindrical sidewalls are also known, such as generally rectangular, oval.

In order to facilitate the attachment of the second part of the film to the surface of the compacted powder slug, it may be desirable or necessary to apply an adhesive to the surface of the compacted powder slug prior to the final step of the coating, for example as described above. Moreover, it can apply | coat with a roller, a spray, etc.

The film material can be conveniently coated at the same time using a film material with a suitably wide sheet size.

The invention is described in more detail by way of example only in accordance with the accompanying drawings. Steps a-k represent the basic compaction and coating apparatus and process method.

The figure shows the various stages of the compacting / coating process of the powder.

Figure 1 shows the mechanism of the basic step of compacting and coating the powder through step 1-1.

a. The first film 1 is placed on the platen 2. The slideable lower piston 3, which can be pushed into the cylinder 4, is equipped with a vacuum port 5.

b. The film 1 is brought into close contact with the cylinder 4 by the vacuum generated by the vacuum port 5, which is placed on the crown of the lower piston 3 to form a pocket shape. do.

c. A large amount of powder 6 is injected onto the pocket of the film and the upper piston 9 is applied downwards towards the lower piston 3 which presses the large amount of powder 6.

d. The compacted powder slug 7 is produced as a result of the compaction of step c.

e. The film is cut by the cutting tool 10 to form a separate semi-coated slug of the compacted powder.

f. The lower piston 3 is applied upward, whereby the compressed powder slug 7 is moved upward.

g. The lower piston 3 is stopped and the powder slug 7 pressed against the proud of the platen 2 is placed.

h. The second film 8 is placed on the platen 2 and loosely unfolded on the compacted powder slug 7.

i. A secondary vacuum is applied around the pulled second film 8 to seal itself around the top of the compacted powder slug 7 by bringing the second film 8 into close contact with the top of the compacted powder slug 7.

j. Lower the cutting tool 12 to clean up and remove the excess unsealed film from the powder slug 7.

k. By applying the lower piston 3 upwards, the fully covered powder slug is discharged from the cylinder 4 and ironed by the iron 13 so that the sealed film has a loosened end.

l. Fully coated tablets are shown with ironing seams.

2 is a modification of the basic process of FIG.

Steps a1 and b1 represent a second preformed film pocket, the second preformed film pocket having the second vacuum forming pocket 14 directly over the partially coated powder as shown in step f of FIG. 1. It is formed by descending onto the platen. Once the opposing film pocket is positioned on the lower piston 3, the compressed and partially coated powder slug is moved upwards in the cavity of the second preformed film pocket, thereby covering the partially coated powder ( capping Make a capsule completely covered with two pockets of film. Then, as described above, the capsule is opened, organized and arranging.

3 shows yet another variant of the basic process.

Step a2 represents the powder slug shown in step f of FIG. 1, introducing a second preformed film pocket as in FIG. 2, wherein the film is a thin pocket, which is the second thin vacuum forming pocket 15. ) To coat only the top of the powder slug and form a seal around the outermost edge of the cylinder of powder slug. Steps 2a-d2 show the revised process. This process produces capsules with different types of seals that give rise to different properties within the capsule.

 4 shows another variant of the process of FIG. 1.

However, the basic process is basically duplicated to form a capsule containing half dose divided into two batches of powder. As shown in FIG. 1, the basic process is carried out redundantly up to step f, which is the basic steps a3-c3 in FIG. 4. The main difference here in FIG. 4 is that the two opposing pockets filled with the compacted powders 16, 17 are half deep in depth and the top of the powder slug is basically flat rather than circular. Step c3 may comprise laying down the intermediate film on the surface of the intermediate slug. Steps d3-f3 combine the two half slugs together to form a single capsule consisting of two parts. Step g3 represents a partitioned capsule. Advantageously, at least two separate dosages of the active ingredient can be introduced into capsule 1 under different compression pressures and the like. This results in better flexibility and selectivity in the performance of the new formulations.

With the careful placement of the co-acting piston during the compaction process, the process described in relation to the amount of powder used may facilitate the formation of powder slugs of various compaction levels. As noted above, these various levels of compaction are possible in powder slugs because they cover the slugs in the film, and can act as a convenient and stable formulation since they are film coatings that provide the necessary components for the slugs. The process and apparatus can be modified to produce capsules of varying properties which are advantageous for conventional capsules and tablets already known in the art. For example, the capsules of the present invention containing powders with low compaction rate can produce very advantageous rapid release properties, preferably quick acting analgesics, for example. That is, the cortex is designed to be both smooth / flexible so that the capsule can be delivered quickly and relatively painlessly through the digestive tract to the target site of drug delivery and to be degraded at or near the target site of drug delivery. It may be. The lower compressibility of the powder in the capsule may also help to smoothly deliver the capsule in the digestive tract, and for this reason the contents of the capsule may be designed to be compressible and mobile, thereby bending the capsule in passing through the body. As it can be compressed or compressed, it can pass through the shape of the body's more restricted passageways, allowing it to continuously move through the digestive tract with less constraints. Such formulations may be found to be particularly useful for patients who are difficult to swallow or who have pain or limited digestive organs. There are several other reasons why it is easier to move inside the body and less aggressive.

The following method is presented as an example, which is not intended to limit the invention in any way.

Example 1

Consumable Item:

Film 1-hpmc calcined with 15% lactic acid and 5% triacetin, treated with 125 micron thick, a supplement of starch 1% and sorbitol monostearate 0.25%

Film 2-Same as Film 1, except 80 microns thick.

Glue applied to the overlap of the first film-benzyl alcohol 45%, triacetin 50%, hpmc E15 premium (Dow Chemical Corp.) 5%

Process technology

Film 1 is thermoformed in single or multiple tablet / caplet shaped pockets in the platen, each pocket having a lower piston that can be raised or lowered as needed to fit tablets and caplets to standard sizes It contains. The tablet shaped pocket has a high edge side around the top circumference of the pocket. This lateral edge is 1 mm high above the platen surface and 0.35 mm in area. The vertical side of this pocket is typically 3mm deep.

The thermoforming operation involves a film that divides the individually controlled vacuum chamber into two halves and acts as a membrane. The film-like chamber is equipped with a plate heated platen at a temperature of about 150 ° C. The vacuum draws a film that can withstand the heated plate for 1 to 5 seconds, preferably 3 seconds. The vacuum in the upper chamber is maintained while the vacuum is applied to the lower chamber. In this step the film is held against a heated platen. As long as the vacuum level in the lower chamber reaches above -0.65 bar and the vacuum in the upper chamber is released to the atmosphere or replaced by a positive pressure, it lowers the film from the heated platen and raises it into the shaped tablet pocket formed below. In this way the film is shaped into tablet pockets in the lower die.

Powder dosing and film 1 cutting

The dosing assembly is then placed over the film forming pocket. It consists of a location mask placed on location dowels in the platen, a dosing sleeve directly on the film forming pocket and on the raised edge side. The dosing sleeve fits exactly the size of the film forming pocket. The powder dose is dropped into the dosing sleeve and dropped into the film pocket. Compression is achieved through the compression piston, which is promoted through the dosing sleeve, sweeps off any residual powder into the film pocket below and compresses it to a fixed stop to cut the film instead. Place it close to. The compaction level is controlled by the mass of powder put into the dosing sleeve. The piston underneath the compacted powder tablet is then lowered, which is facilitated by an analogous amount of punching through the film to any compacted piston as it obstructs the inside of the raised edge side. It also replaces the compression piston with a similarly promoting cut piston and punch cuts the raised edge side. Internal fit tolerances of the cut piston and raised edge side ensure that their diameter clearance does not exceed 35 microns.

The device is generally made of stainless steel and the piston crown is made of hardened steel. The device was standardized and supplied by Midland Tool and Design, Birmingham, UK.

The tablet is pushed down by the cut piston into the boundary of the pocket and placed on the lower piston. Remove the position mask and dosing sleeve and the waste film web.

Second Film Coating, Cutting and Ironing

The partially coated core is raised up into the mold so that half of the formed tablet sidewall is above the raised edge side. The second film has a glue 15 gsm applied to its surface via a gravure roller, which develops into a tablet. The film is then thermoformed in the same manner as the first film, except that the film is fixed on the tablet by a spacer plate so that the positioning of the film does not damage the upper surface of the tablet. In the second thermoforming, a low heat (50-150 ° C.) heating platen can be used because the film is thinner and softened by glue application. This helps to limit the thermal exposure of the powder surface. The position mask is then placed over the tablet and the second cut piston is lowered. The second cut piston is designed to form a punch cut on the outer edge of the raised edge side of the lower die without the diameter of the pit tolerance exceeding 25 microns. The position mask and the second cut piston and waste film web are removed and the fully covered gore is pushed through a tightly-fitted tablet-shaped heat cylinder (40 ° C.) to form an overlap seal.

Example 2

The following steps were carried out under the same conditions as in Example 1 except for replacing the 'powder dosing and film 1 cutting' step.

Powder dosing and cutting film 1

A dosing assembly is placed over the film forming pocket. It consists of a location mask placed on location dowels in the platen, a dosing sleeve directly on the film forming pocket and on the raised edge side. The dosing sleeve fits exactly the size of the film forming pocket. The powder dose is dropped into the dosing sleeve and dropped into the film pocket. Cut is achieved through a cut piston, which is promoted through the dosing sleeve and sweeps off any residual powder into the film pocket below. The compaction level is controlled by the mass of powder put into the dosing sleeve. The cutting piston cuts through the film because it obstructs the inside of the raised edge side. The cut piston is held 1 mm further engaged with the raised edge, thereby further compressing the powder into the film shell. The compression piston is also replaced by a similarly promoting cut piston and punch cuts the raised edge side. Internal fit tolerances of the cut piston and raised edge side ensure that their diameter clearance does not exceed 25 microns.

The device is generally made of stainless steel and the piston crown is made of hardened steel. The device was standardized and supplied by Midland Tool and Design, Birmingham, UK.

The tablet is pushed down by the cut piston into the boundary of the pocket and placed on the lower piston. Remove the position mask and dosing sleeve and the waste film web.

Example 3

Same as Example 1 except that the pit tolerance for the first cut piston is the same as the second cut piston, that is, 25 microns.

Example 4

Same as Example 2 except that the pit tolerance for the first cut piston is the same as the second cut piston, i.e. 25 microns.

Claims (26)

A method of forming a compacted powder slug encapsulated with a film comprising forming compacted powder slug and forming a film of material near the surface of the compacted powder slug using vacuum and / or pressure. The method of claim 1, wherein the film comprises a heated thermoplastic prior to vacuum formation. The method of claim 1 wherein the means for compacting the powder is a machine. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mechanical means for compacting the powder uses one or more pistons. A method of forming a compressed powder slug coated with a film, the method comprising: vacuum forming a film in a pocket, compressing the powder to form a slug in the vacuum formed film, and vacuum forming a second film near the slug to form the slug. Method comprising completely coating with a film. The method of claim 1, wherein the film has a thickness in the range of 20 to 200 microns. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a half coated film of two separate film materials is formed on the pressed powder slug. A method of forming an encapsulated powder slug, comprising: vacuum forming a film in a pocket, compressing the powder to form a slug in a vacuum formed pocket of the film to form a partially coated powder slug, and a second in the second pocket. Vacuum forming the film, wherein the second vacuum formed film pocket is introduced over a partially coated powder slug to completely coat the slug with the film. The method of claim 8, wherein the second pocket is fairly thin. Vacuum forming two films in two separate pockets, compressing individual doses of powder in each pocket to form partially film coated powder slugs in each vacuum formed film pocket, and then gathering them together to powder A method for forming an encapsulated powdered slug, comprising forming an encapsulated powdered slug containing two separate doses of the. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is used to aid the film coating process. The method of claim 11, comprising applying an adhesive to the compacted powder surface prior to vacuum forming the film to completely coat the compacted powder slug. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of powder slugs is formed simultaneously. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of powder slugs are formed and coated at substantially the same time. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the powder slug is coated by an overlapping film. The method of claim 15, wherein the shape of the slug generally comprises a columnar sidewall portion, wherein two half coating films overlap on the sidewall portion. A delivery capsule having a powder slug core and a closed wall of any one of the preceding claims. The delivery capsule of claim 16, wherein the films forming the closure wall are overlapped. The delivery capsule of claim 16, wherein the delivery capsule has one or more overlapping flanges. The sealing wall of the film or capsule used is made from a non-gelatinous polymer material, a modified cellulose material, a starch material, a modified starch material or a protein film or a polyethylene oxide implanted copolymer whose side chain is polyethylene oxide. Delivery capsules or a method for producing the same. The sealing walls of the films or capsules used are hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), pectin, alginate, soya or whey A delivery capsule according to any one of the preceding claims that is made of a protein or a method of making the same. Powder slug according to any one of the preceding claims. A method of forming a pressed powder slug, wherein the powder is introduced into a pocket formed by a cylinder and a piston, and the powder is compressed by pressing the piston acting equally to the second piston to compress and shape the powder into a target slug. Including method. The method of claim 24, wherein the powder slug is coated with a film of material. The powder slug of claim 1, wherein the powder slug is not a tablet. The powder slug of claim 1, wherein the powder slug does not have normal tableting properties.