Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for fusing or contacting reactor and reagent droplets in a three-phase microfluidic or millifluidic system with one of the phases being continuous, in which the reagent droplet is injected in the droplet train before it coalesces or contacts with the reactor droplet. More specifically, the reagent droplet detaches from the reagent inlet before being in contact with the reactor droplet. The method of the invention involves two successive but not concomitant steps: first producing in the droplet train a droplet of a reagent which breaks-up from the reagent reservoir before the second step of merging. The invention also discloses a milli/microfluidic device whose equivalent circuit is represented on FIG. 11.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing solid capsules comprising a compound A, dispersed in a composition C4.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control, The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a capsule including: an internal phase including at least one plant cell; and an external gel phase, that totally encapsulates the internal phase at its periphery, the external phase including at least one surfactant and at least one polyelectrolyte in the gel state.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for fusing or contacting reactor and reagent droplets in a three-phase microfluidic or millifluidic system with one of the phases being continuous, in which the reagent droplet is injected in the droplet train before it coalesces or contacts with the reactor droplet. More specifically, the reagent droplet detaches from the reagent inlet before being in contact with the reactor droplet. The method of the invention involves two successive but not concomitant steps: first producing in the droplet train a droplet of a reagent which breaks-up from the reagent reservoir before the second step of merging. The invention also discloses a milli/microfluidic device whose equivalent circuit is represented on FIG. 11.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a solution of liquid particles in suspension for the control, calibration and/or performance of physical, in particular optical, measurements in a flow cytometry device for analysis of biological cells, said solution comprising liquid particles (21) of a first liquid phase dispersed in a second liquid phase, said liquid particles (21) having physical, chemical and/or biochemical properties that enable the attainment of physical measurements in said flow cytometry device similar to measurements obtained with biological cells, and said liquid particles (21), having a diameter for which the coefficient of variation within the solution of liquid particles in suspension is less than 10%. The invention also relates to a measurement method and a flow cytometry device implementing the solution of liquid particles in suspension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a masterbatch of diene elastomer and reinforcing inorganic filler in accordance with the invention comprises the following successive stages: bringing into contact and mixing one or more aqueous dispersions (B) of one or more hydrophobized reinforcing inorganic fillers, which coagulate(s) spontaneously with the said latex, and one or more diene elastomer latexes (A) in order to obtain a coagulum, without requiring a coagulating agent, recovery of the coagulum, then drying the recovered coagulum in order to obtain the masterbatch.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing capsules comprising a liquid core, a stiffened intermediate envelope and a gelled external envelope, comprising a step of forming a multi-component liquid drop, a gelification step and a stiffening step. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing capsules comprising a liquid core and a stiffened envelope, comprising a step of forming a multi-component liquid drop, a gelification step, a stiffening step and a depolymerizing step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a masterbatch in the liquid phase based on one or more diene elastomer latexes and on one or more fillers, comprising the following successive stages: preparation of a stable and homogeneous aqueous dispersion by mixing one or more diene elastomer latexes with one or more stable aqueous dispersions of one or more fillers, the said fillers; homogenization of the aqueous dispersion, coagulation within the aqueous dispersion of the said diene elastomer latex or latexes with the filler or fillers by supplying mechanical energy, recovery of the coagulum, drying the recovered coagulum in order to obtain the masterbatch.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalizing the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule comprising at least one cell with hematopoietic potential, said capsule being formed with a liquid core and at least one gelled shell encapsulating totally the liquid core at its periphery, to the use of such a capsule for producing ex vivo enucleated erythroid cells as well as an ex vivo method for producing enucleated erythroid cells using said capsule.

Abstract: The device (110) for dispensing a fluid composition includes: a container (30) containing a heterogeneous mixture (14); a member (34) for dispensing the fluid composition; a delivery element (32) including: a fluid guide conduit (42) defining an axis (A-A?) for the flow of fluid through a central passage (50); a filtration member (44) configured so that the heterogeneous mixture (14) inserted into the guide conduit (42) passes through the filtration member (44); the filtration member (44) including at least one openwork filtration wall (56) delimiting a plurality of filtration openings (58); the heterogeneous mixture (14) including particles (20) in suspension, the filtration openings (58) having a transverse expanse smaller than the mean diameter of the particles (20) in suspension; and the particles (20) in suspension being formed by beads.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for cultivating micro-organisms by confinement in micro-bioreactors. Said method comprises using a capillary tube in which a carrier fluid for moving a train of droplets forward flows, said capillary tube comprising micro-bioreactors in which the culture of said micro-organisms takes place, wherein said micro-bioreactors are separated by a spacing fluid which is a gas. The diameter of the micro-bioreactors (5) is smaller than that of the capillary tube (8) and the size of the bubble (6) of said spacing fluid is within a range of two to ten times the diameter of said capillary tube (8). The method can be used for cultivating micro-organisms such as thread-like fungi or planktonic algae.

Abstract: A composition to cover a metal surface comprises an organic continuous phase comprising at least one anticorrosive pigment, and a hydrophilic phase dispersed in the organic continuous phase, the hydrophilic phase comprising a chemical agent for the surface treatment of the metal surface. The surface treatment chemical agent can advantageously be cerium nitrate. A process for the manufacture of a composition according to the present invention is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow assay method in a liquid medium for an object (or element) of interest via the formation of aggregates of particles that are surface-functionalized by at least one functionalizing molecule, or receptor, specific for said object of interest.

Abstract: This method comprises bringing drops to be separated into contact with an interface (40) suitable for allowing an osmotic equilibrium between the content of each drop to be separated. The method comprises an osmotic flow between the drops (20A) of the first group of drops through the interface (40) in order to modify the density of each drop (20A) of the first group of drops and the separation of the drops (20A, 20B) according to the density thereof or a combination of the density and the volume in order to isolate the drops (20A) of the first group of drops from the drops (20B) of a second group of drops.

Abstract: A method includes separately conveying a first liquid solution (36) containing the first material and a second liquid solution (46) containing a liquid polyelectrolyte. The method includes forming of a series of drops (78) at the outlet (50), each drop (78) including a central core (80) formed from a first solution (36) and a peripheral film (82) formed from a second solution. The method includes immersing each drop (78) in a gelling solution (70) containing a reagent capable of reacting with the polyelectrolyte of the film (82) so as to form the gelled casing. The second solution (40) contains at least one surfactant before the former contacts the first solution (36).