Patent ID: 7374780

Claim:
Two part hard shell capsule, the shell consisting essentially of: (a) at least 1% per weight poly(1,4-α-D-glucan), based on the total carbohydrate content of the composition, and (b) at the utmost 99% per weight starch, based on the total carbohydrate content of the composition, together with (c) between 1 to 60% per weight of a plasticiser, based on the total carbohydrate content of the composition, wherein the poly(1,4-α-D-glucan) (a) is characterised in: (i) the molar ratio of branched (1-4,-6)- and unbranched (1-4)-anhydroglucan units is <1×10 −3 , (ii) the number average degree of polymerisation D(p)N lies in the range between 40 and 300, and (iii) the weight fraction of cristallinity f crystalline is greater than 0.35, and wherein the starch (b) is characterised in (iv) the number average degree of polymerisation D(p)N is >10 2 , and (v) the molar ratio of branched (1-4,-6)- and unbranched (1-4)-anhydroglucan units is greater than 0.2×10 −2 , and wherein (vi) the resulting Q branch of the composition after mixing of (a) and (b) is greater than or equal to 1×10 −5 .