Abstract: An exine-construct that can be coloured and used as a protection and/or delivery and/or removal vehicle for an active substance, or as an antioxidant. It can be used in a method of surgery, therapy, prevention or diagnosis. The invention provides an exine-construct comprising of exine shells together with an active substance; and a method for preparing the exine-construct by isolating exine shells from a naturally occurring spore and suitably attaching them together.

Abstract: A one-pot procedure to extract a dispersible exine shell. The shell can be used as a protection and/or delivery and/or removal vehicle for active substances or as an antioxidant. The invention provides a formulation containing the dispersible exine shell together with an active substance; and a method for preparing the shell by isolating a dispersible exine shell from a naturally occurring spore or pollen grain by treating the spore or pollen grain with a base or surfactant or both with or without a catalyst in the same reaction vessel.

Abstract: A whitened exine shell having a degree of whiteness (L*) of greater than 65 measured under D 65 illumination. The shell can be used as a delivery vehicle for an active substance, or as an antioxidant. It can be used in a method of surgery, therapy or diagnosis. The invention provides a formulation containing the whitened exine shell together with an active substance; and a method for preparing the shell by isolating an exine shell from a naturally occurring spore under treatment conditions which do not include aceto lysis, and treating the isolated shell or a precursor thereof with a bleaching composition.

Abstract: Topical formulation containing an active substance which is chemically or physically bound to, or encapsulated within, an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore. The active substance can be released from the exine shell on application to a living or non-living surface. The invention may be used to provide gradual release of an active substance over a period of time subsequent to application of the formulation to the surface.

Abstract: A formulation containing an active substance encapsulated within an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore, together with a protective additive which is also encapsulated within the exine shell.

Abstract: A whitened exine shell having a degree of whiteness (L*) of greater than 65 measured under D 65 illumination. The shell can be used as a delivery vehicle for an active substance, or as an antioxidant. It can be used in a method of surgery, therapy or diagnosis. The invention provides a formulation containing the whitened exine shell together with an active substance; and a method for preparing the shell by isolating an exine shell from a naturally occurring spore under treatment conditions which do not include acetolysis, and treating the isolated shell or a precursor thereof with a bleaching composition.

Abstract: A formulation containing an active substance encapsulated within an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore, together with a protective additive which is also encapsulated within the exine shell.

Abstract: This invention provides the use of an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore, or a fragment thereof, as an antioxidant, for instance in a composition or formulation containing an active substance. Also provided is a method for reducing rancidity, or other oxidative degradation, of a substance, composition, or formulation, by encapsulating the substance, composition, or formulation in, or chemically binding it to, or mixing it with, an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical or dietetic dosage form comprising of effective quantity of an active substance chemically or physically bound to a support comprising sporopollenin, or other similar exine coating of spores, of a plant or fungus, optionally with further excipients.

Abstract: An image enhancing agent of a form comprising an effective quantity of an image enhancing material chemically or physically bound to or encapsulated within a support comprising, preferentially, an exine coating of spores of various plants or fungi, optionally with further excipients.

Abstract: Topical formulation containing an active substance which is chemically or physically bound to, or encapsulated within, an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore. The active substance can be released from the exine shell on application to a living or non-living surface. The invention may be used to provide gradual release of the active substance over a period of time subsequent to application of the formulation to the surface.

Abstract: This invention provides the use of an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore, or a fragment thereof, as an antioxidant, for instance in a composition or formulation containing an active substance. Also provided is a method for reducing rancidity, or other oxidative degradation, of a substance, composition, or formulation, by encapsulating the substance, composition, or formulation in, or chemically binding it to, or mixing it with, an exine shell of a naturally occurring spore or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical or dietetic dosage form comprising of effective quantity of an active substance chemically or physically bound to a support comprising sporopollenin, or other similar exine coating of spores, of a plant or fungus, optionally with further excipients.