Abstract: A method of producing solid composite lipid/drug nanoparticles that includes the steps of: (1) dissolving a lipid and a drug in a suitable organic solvent to form a solution; (2) emulsifying the solution in a liquid to form an emulsion having a discontinuous phase of micelles comprising the organic solvent, the drug and the lipid, and a continuous phase comprising the liquid; and (3) contacting the emulsion with a supercritical fluid under conditions suitable to keep the supercritical fluid in a supercritical state, whereby the supercritical fluid extracts the organic solvent from the micelles, causing them to precipitate as organic-solvent free solid composite lipid/drug nanoparticles suspended or dispersed in the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for producing particles via supercritical fluid processing. In one embodiment, the method includes expanding a supercritical fluid plasticized melt across a pressure drop to form solid composite particles that are simultaneously dispersed, foamed and cooled, and milling the solid particles produced to achieve the desired size distribution. In another embodiment, a pressure vessel containing a supercritical fluid plasticized melt is depressurized to form a cooled solid porous mass, which is then milled to obtain solid composite particles.

Abstract: A method of producing solid composite lipid/drug nanoparticles that includes the steps of: (1) dissolving a lipid and a drug in a suitable organic solvent to form a solution; (2) emulsifying the solution in a liquid to form an emulsion having a discontinuous phase of micelles comprising the organic solvent, the drug and the lipid, and a continuous phase comprising the liquid; and (3) contacting the emulsion with a supercritical fluid under conditions suitable to keep the supercritical fluid in a supercritical state, whereby the supercritical fluid extracts the organic solvent from the micelles, causing them to precipitate as organic-solvent free solid composite lipid/drug nanoparticles suspended or dispersed in the liquid.

Abstract: A method of producing microparticles and nanoparticles of a solute via the extraction of solvent, having the solute dissolved therein, from an emulsion using a supercritical fluid. The solute to be precipitated is dissolved in the solvent to form a solution, and the solution is dispersed in an immiscible or partially miscible liquid to form an emulsion. The particles are produced via the extraction of the solvent from the emulsion using the supercritical fluid. The process can produce an aqueous suspension of particles that are substantially insoluble in water, and the solvents used in the process to form the emulsion initially can be recovered and recycled.

Abstract: A method for producing composite particles using a supercritical fluid extraction technique on an emulsion. First and second materials (for example; a polymer and a biologically active material) are dissolved or suspended in a preferably solvent to form a solution or dispersion. The solution or dispersion is emulsified in a polar solvent to form an oil-in-water or water-in-oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsion is contacted with a supercritical fluid to extract the solvent. Removal of the solvent by the supercritical fluid from the emulsion supersaturates at least the first material in the solution causing the first material to precipitate out of the solution as composite particles that include both the first and second materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing particles via a supercritical fluid processing technique, an apparatus for carrying out the method and the particles produced thereby. The method includes: (1) providing: a supercritical fluid; a first solvent that is soluble in the supercritical fluid; a second solvent that is substantially insoluble in the supercritical fluid and is at least partially soluble in or miscible with the first solvent; and a solute that is soluble in the first solvent and is substantially insoluble in the second solvent and the supercritical fluid; (2) contacting the first solvent, the second solvent and the solute together to form a solution; and (3) contacting the solution with the supercritical fluid to extract the first solvent from the solution and precipitate the solute in the form of particles that are suspended in the second solvent.

Abstract: A method for producing composite particles using a supercritical fluid extraction technique on an emulsion. First and second materials (for example, a polymer and a biologically active material) are dissolved or suspended in a preferably solvent to form a solution or dispersion. The solution or dispersion is emulsified in a polar solvent to form an oil-in-water or water-in-oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsion is contacted with a supercritical fluid to extract the solvent. Removal of the solvent by the supercritical fluid from the emulsion supersaturates at least the first material in the solution causing the first material to precipitate out of the solution as composite particles that include both the first and second materials.

Abstract: A method of producing microparticles and nanoparticles of a solute via the extraction of solvent, having the solute dissolved therein, from an emulsion using a supercritical fluid. The solute to be precipitated is dissolved in the solvent to form a solution, and the solution is dispersed in an immiscible or partially miscible liquid to form an emulsion. The particles are produced via the extraction of the solvent from the emulsion using the supercritical fluid. The process can produce an aqueous suspension of particles that are substantially insoluble in water, and the solvents used in the process to form the emulsion initially can be recovered and recycled.

Abstract: A method for reducing residue formation caused by volatile materials during the curing of powder coating compositions which includes the steps of applying different powder coating compositions to separate bases; placing each coated base in a separate extraction chamber; placing each separate extraction chamber in a curing oven; heating the coated base in its respective extraction chamber in the curing oven to curing temperature to cure the coating composition, and simultaneously flowing a stream of air through the respective extraction chamber to capture volatile emissions from the volatile materials in the air stream during the curing process; simultaneously flowing the respective stream of air out of the curing oven and chilling the stream to condense the volatile emissions from each of the compositions to a collectable form; determining the quantity of the emitted product from each of the compositions; and comparing the quantity of emitted product from each of the compositions to determine the composition