*Article* **Prototype Gastro-Resistant Soft Gelatin Films and Capsules—Imaging and Performance In Vitro**

#### **Bartosz Maciejewski 1, Vishnu Arumughan 2, Anette Larsson 2 and Małgorzata Sznitowska 1,\***


Received: 18 March 2020; Accepted: 7 April 2020; Published: 9 April 2020

**Abstract:** The following study is a continuation of the previous work on preparation of gastro-resistant films by incorporation of cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) into the soft gelatin film. An extended investigation on the previously described binary Gelatin-CAP and ternary Gelatin-CAP-carrageenan polymer films was performed. The results sugges<sup>t</sup> that the critical feature behind formation of the acid-resistant films is a spinodal decomposition in the film-forming mixture. In the obtained films, upon submersion in an acidic medium, gelatin swells and dissolves, exposing a CAP-based acid-insoluble skeleton, partially coated by a residue of other ingredients. The dissolution-hindering effect appears to be stronger when iota-carrageenan is added to the film-forming mixture. The drug release study performed in enhancer cells confirmed that diclofenac sodium is not released in the acidic medium, however, at pH 6.8 the drug release occurs. The capsules prepared with a simple lab-scale process appear to be resistant to disintegration of the shell structure in acid, although imperfections of the sealing have been noticed.

**Keywords:** gelatin; gastro-resistant; films; capsules; structure; drug release
