Single-Dose Technology

Single-Dose Technology
Turning back the clock is a daunting task, but cosmeceuticals have stepped up to the
challenge — and certainly have an eager audience. In fact, our refusal to accept the natural
signs of ageing has left many of us tossing more than just pennies into the “fountain of
youth.” Health and beauty products represent a large and rapidly growing business, fuelled
by hard-earned money. One only has to leaf through any magazine to find a plethora of
beauty lotions, nutritional supplements and creams that constantly saturate the marketplace.
And, according to “Industry Growth on the Horizon,” an article published in Global
Cosmetic Industry, the total amount spent in the US on appearance-improving and antiageing products amounts to $230 billion a year. A remarkable annual growth rate of 9.5%
makes cosmeceuticals one of the fastest-growing natural personal care industry segments.
hat many forget, however, is that the effectiveness,
convenience and safety of cosmeceuticals depends as
much on the technologies used to deliver the product
as it does on the ingredients. The increasing demand
for unit-dose technology comes from benefits such as the preservation
of product freshness, portability during travel and increased specificpoint application. Two revolutionary single-dose technologies — the
award-winning DelPouch unit-dose delivery system and Vegicaps Soft
twist-off capsules – offer innovative unit-dose delivery methods for
cosmeceuticals. Such unit-dose approaches have numerous benefits.
Instead of squeezing out copious and often unnecessary amounts
of tube contents or extracting the contents from bottles, pouches or
jars, the single-dose format allows consumers to dispense and apply
products in a single, sanitary premeasured step. Because the amount
dispensed is controlled, individuals consistently use the correct dose,
and avoid any adverse reactions that may result from overuse. Retinol,
for example, an active ingredient found in many cosmeceutical products,
may cause irritation if the dosage is in excess of the recommended
14 www.nutraceuticalmag.com
amount. Additionally, for manufacturers with products that undergo
clinical trials, either for efficacy or for claim support, a major benefit
of single-dose technology is the consistency of results obtained by
controlling the dose that study participants use.
The industry is catching on. The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G)
has recognized Catalent for its pioneering DelPouch unit-dose delivery
system. The company was awarded the “Special Recognition for
Skincare Innovation 2006–2007” prize from P&G’s External Business
Development group for use in its Olay Regenerist facial lotion.
Another growing area of single-dose delivery is the twist-off softgel
that has had a high adoption rate from cosmeceutical markets wherein
ingredients, dose form and packaging all become key differentiators.
Softgels are highly marketable, with one of their most alluring properties
being their aesthetic appeal. Cosmeceutical providers follow the
season via style and colour alterations, and softgels are conducive to
such demand via shape, size, colours, texture and surface variation.
Customized capsules can also be complemented with proprietary
containers such as blisters or jars, tailored to meet bespoke needs.
Cosmeceutical Special
Softgel Encapsulation
Basic softgel encapsulation was originally invented for oral use; later, the
twist-off technology was developed and adopted for cosmeceutical use.
One of the key advantages of the softgel capsule is its hermetic sealing,
which retains the stability of the delicate ingredients in sophisticated
and expensive cosmeceutical products, thus preserving full efficacy and
preventing any colour or odour degradation. Often, the actual compound
and texture of the same product will be different in a softgel than in a
traditional jar or tube; there is no water in the capsule, which enables them
to be filled with highly concentrated active ingredients including peptides,
retinol, vitamin C and E, plus other popular ingredients such as green tea
extract and numerous noble oils.
Softgels have gone one step further with the development of Vegicaps
Soft capsules, a technology designed to meet the increasing demands
of cosmetics that are free from animal ingredients. In fact, Vegicaps Soft
capsules actually perform significantly better than traditional softgels,
with a better twist-off profile and more resistance to environmental
changes such as temperature and humidity than traditional softgels made
of gelatin. Vegicaps Soft capsules also exhibit a higher compatibility
with fragrances that, usually, interfere with the stability of standard
gelatin capsules. Finally, their unique odour-free formulation is key when
encapsulating fine fragrances and sophisticated cosmeceuticals.
For more information
Laura Baruzzi, Commercial Director Global Cosmetics,
and Akan Oton, Global Marketing Director, Catalent
Pharma Solutions.
Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, USA,
Catalent is one of the leading providers of
advanced dose form and packaging technologies,
and development, manufacturing and packaging
services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
consumer healthcare companies in nearly 100 countries.
The company applies its local market expertise and
technical creativity to advance treatments, change
markets and enhance patient outcomes. Catalent
employs approximately 10,000 people at more
than 30 facilities worldwide and generates more
than $1.7 billion in annual revenue. For more
information, visit www.catalent.com.
In Summary
There is a growing trend toward single unit-dose forms and Catalent is seeing
an increasing number of requests for advanced cosmeceutical formulations
across many markets. The synergy of DelPouch and Vegicaps Soft
technologies can meet customer needs, positioning unit-dose
technology as the delivery form of the future. C
Olay® is a registered trademark of The Procter & Gamble
Company. DelPouch® is a registered trademark of Catalent
Pharma Solutions. Vegicaps® is a registered trademark in the
US and in numerous European territories and is otherwise a
common law mark of Catalent Pharma Solutions.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com 15