With the development of society and increasing health awareness, trends in the biomedical field are constantly evolving. In 2000, vegetable capsules were introduced in the United States. Due to their natural origin, stable molecular structure, and wide adaptability, leading pharmaceutical and health product companies began adopting them to replace traditional gelatin capsules. The U.S. FDA issued guidance earlier, expressing the hope that within a few years, vegetable empty capsules would capture 80% of the U.S. market. In the long run, replacing animal capsules with vegetable capsules has become a global trend.

Vegetable capsules offer the following advantages:

First, vegetable capsules contain no animal ingredients, avoiding potential risks of animal disease transmission, and aligning with modern consumers’ pursuit of food safety and health. In contrast, the production of animal capsules requires ingredients such as animal collagen, the sources of which may carry certain risks.

Second, vegetable capsules have better dissolution rates and stability, effectively protecting the quality and stability of pharmaceuticals. Gelatin capsules, with their high moisture content, are prone to cross‑linking reactions with contents, which may affect drug efficacy. Third, the production process of vegetable capsules is more environmentally friendly, better adhering to the concept of sustainable development. The manufacture of animal capsules requires the use of chemicals and preservatives, whereas vegetable capsule production does not need these materials, making it more eco‑friendly. Replacing gelatin capsules with vegetable capsules is a global biomedical trend, offering advantages such as greater safety, stability, and environmental friendliness. As vegetable capsule technology continues to develop and improve, it is believed that vegetable capsules will gain even wider application and promotion in the biomedical field in the future.

Unicornshell is a platform company focused on vegetable empty capsules, integrating technology R&D, manufacturing, and international marketing. It holds independent intellectual property rights and has obtained more than a dozen domestic and international patents. It currently operates a production base in Hebei with an annual capacity of 1.6 billion capsules from its pilot‑scale production base, and plans to build six major production bases nationwide with a total annual capacity of 100 billion capsules. Once completed and operational, this project will accelerate the promotion and application of vegetable empty capsules, driving industrial upgrading and transformation.