BigPatents India

The present invention is a process for coloring gelatin-based formulations involving adding a saturated fatty acid to the gelatin-based formulation along with lake pigment, whereby the saturated fatty acid is added in an amount so as to prevent cross-linking between the gelatin-based formulations and the aluminum cations released by the lake pigments. Preferably, this amount is about 10 % to about 300 % by weight of the added lake pigment content. With this process, the resulting colored gelatin exhibits acceptable machineability characteristics and disintegration. As an example, the colored gelatin produced by this process has a viscosity of less than approximately 10,000 cP at about 60 °C. Additionally, the present invention is a gelatin-based formulation made from the above-described process. The gelatin-based formulation includes gelatin, lake pigment(s), and a sufficient amount of fatty acid to prevent cross-linking between and the cations released from the lake pigment(s). Further, the present invention includes a dosage form that includes the described gelatin-based formulation as the sheath material. The dosage form may encapsulate a liquid, suspension, semi-solid, or solid pharmaceutical, nutritional, herbal, or personal care product, or combination thereof.