Decapsulates

Decapsulates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb decapsulate, meaning to remove a capsule or covering from a particle, cell, organism, or dosage form. In scientific contexts, decapsulation refers to the process of stripping away an outer capsule to expose the underlying structure for study or analysis.

In microbiology and mycology, many bacteria and some fungi possess protective capsules made of polysaccharides or other polymers. Decapsulation removes this capsule, which can alter characteristics such as staining properties, surface accessibility, and susceptibility to phagocytosis. Researchers may decapsulate organisms to investigate cell-surface features, virulence factors, or immune interactions, and to compare encapsulated versus non-encapsulated variants. Methods for decapsulation are typically designed to degrade or remove capsule material with controlled chemical, enzymatic, or physical steps to minimize damage to the cell body.

In pharmacology and drug development, decapsulation can describe the removal of an encapsulating shell from a dosage form, such as an encapsulated drug, in order to access the active contents for analysis, dissolution testing, or formulation studies. This can be relevant for quality control, pharmacokinetic studies, or facilitating administration in cases where capsules are unsuitable for the patient.

In virology, decapsulation is less common terminology; uncoating or decapsidation is generally used to describe the process by which a virus releases its genome from the protective capsid. When decapsulation is used, it typically refers to non-viral particles or to conceptual discussions of capsule removal rather than the standard viral uncoating processes.

See also decapsidation and encapsulation.