Contact Us

Dietary supplement in soft gel capsule

Pharmaceutical Gel Capsule Materials

Enhance your oral gel capsule formulations with high quality ingredients

Consumers prefer gel capsules over other dosage forms making the development of medicines in this format more relevant than ever. CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ Liquid Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a pharmaceutical excipient which can be used in the manufacturing of gel capsules as hydrophilic fillers aiding solubilization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). PEG also acts as plasticizer in the coating of the gel capsules. Our liquid PEG excipients enable a reduced risk of cross linking and contain lower impurity profiles, all while meeting the highest regulatory standards.

Solutions for gel capsule applications

Blue gel pill capsules

Available low aldehyde grades

Reduce the risk of cross linking 

Low aldehyde PEG grades help minimize the risk of cross linking in the gel capsule shell.

Recommended grades:

  • Low aldehyde and low ethylene glycol PEG 300
  • Low aldehyde and low ethylene glycol PEG 400
  • Low aldehyde and low ethylene glycol PEG 600


To maintain low ethylene glycol levels throughout processing, we recommend following Dow’s handling guidance.

Process of production of pills, tablets

Improve solubility in gel capsule formulation

Our low molecular weight carriers and fillers enhance gel capsule formulation by improving solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Recommended grades:

  • 5-50% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 300
  • 5-50% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 400
  • 5-50% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 600
Blue soft gel capsule medicine in strip package with blur background

Enhance the elasticity of capsule shells

Our broad range of plasticizers help improve the elasticity of the soft gel capsule shells. 

Recommended grades: 

  • 5-30% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 300
  • 5-30% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 400
  • 5-50% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 600
  • 5-30% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 1000
  • 5-30% CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEG 1450

The optimal PEG quantity depends on your formulation components. Contact a Dow representative for assistance in defining your ideal dosage. 

Generic Pill Bottle and Capsules

Reduce degradation risks

VERSENE™ NA Edetate Disodium is a partially neutralized salt of EDTA in dry form, making it suitable for pharmaceutical formulations. Operational life of in-process liquids, including coatings, can be extended with the use of VERSENE NA. Active ingredients are often sensitive to oxidation or chemical attacks, either through direct attack or catalysis by transition metal ions which can occur during processing or storage. The addition of VERSENE NA helps to minimize these effects.

Recommended grades: 

  • – 1% VERSENE™ NA Edetate Disodium
Green pill gel capsules

CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ Polyethylene Glycols

Explore more about CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ PEGs and MPEGs that meet the highest standards for quality and compliance.

What are the benefits of using CARBOWAX™ SENTRY™ Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) in gel capsules?

Solubility performance

A trusted solubilizer for poorly water-soluble Class II & Class IV APIs.

Reduced risk of cross linking

Selecting our low aldehydes grades helps reduce the risk of cross linking of the shell. 

Low impurity profiles

Allowing more consistent manufacturing and longer shelf-life of drugs. 

Improved residual solvent profile

Lowering the Ethylene Glycol (EG) levels in your formulation. 

Meet USP-NF and EP monographs

Offering regional regulatory and technical support for pharmaceutical applications. 

Contact us to discuss your gel capsules challenges

We are open to collaborate and support in solving any challenges you may have.