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: 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 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.