The aim of this work was to blend gelatin with hydroxypropylated
high amylose (80%) corn starch to develop hard capsule
materials. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was used as both a plasticizer
and a compatibilizer in the blends. In order to prepare hard capsules
for pharmaceutical applications by the well-established method of
dipping mold pins into solution and then drying, solutions with
higher solids concentrations (up to 30%) were investigated and
developed. Films with different ratios of gelatin/starch were prepared
by casting. The viscosity of various solutions was studied by
viscometry, and the mechanical properties of the films were studied
by tensile testing. The morphologies and compatibility of gelatin
and starch were investigated by transparency, SEM and water contact
angle