Preparation of green and gelatin-free nanocrystalline cellulose capsules

The ambiguous source and uncontrolled solubility of gelatin make it crucial to develop gelatin capsule substitutes. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) of excellent mechanical performance, good biocompatibility and green origin has drawn many attentions as a new class of biomaterials. In this work, NCC capsule was prepared by dipping method with PEG and glycerol as plasticizer. The effect of PEG and glycerol on the rheological property of NCC gel and the surface morphology of NCC capsule was evaluated. The disintegration time of NCC capsule meet the criteria in United States Pharmacopoeia (USP32-701).There is no significant difference in the release of sulfuric acid between gelatin capsule and NCC capsule. NCC capsule thus has the potential as a green platform for biomedical applications in drug delivery.