Abstract: The present invention relates to lipid based nanoparticles or liposomes that are sensitive to ultrasonic energy, compositions containing these particles, methods for delivering one or more active agents using the particles, and methods for preparing the particles. The nanoparticles and liposomes encapsulate active agents such as chemotoxins, genes, virus vectors, proteins, peptides, antisense oligonucleotides, carbohydrates, and stem cells. The particles contain an aqueous core, at least one active agent located within the aqueous core, and a lipid bilayer or membrane that encapsulates the active agent within the aqueous core. The lipid bilayer may comprise a primary phospholipid and a lysolipid that preferably have different acyl chain lengths, making the lipid bilayer sensitive to ultrasound. Ultrasound may be used to track the particles as they move throughout the body. When the ultrasonic energy reaches a certain pressure, the lipid bilayer will break apart, releasing the active agent.

Abstract: Certain diacylglycerol-polyethyleneglycol (DAG-PEG) lipids are especially useful for forming thermodynamically stable liposomes. Such liposomes are useful for a variety of purposes, including the delivery of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A tubesheet is formed at the end of a module containing polymeric material for gas separation, by immersing the end of the module in an epoxy material, or its equivalent. A vacuum, or partial vacuum, applied at or near the opposite end of the module, tends to draw the epoxy material towards the source of the vacuum, and results in a tubesheet having a desired thickness, even though the epoxy material may have relatively high viscosity. The method produces effective tubesheets, while minimizing the degree to which the tubesheet covers the otherwise useful surface area of the polymeric material. The method thus produces gas-separation modules having enhanced productivity.

Abstract: The invention provides oil emulsion droplets and a general and facile method for providing same through the use of templating multilayer capsules. The oil emulsion droplets are further useful in fabricating liquid crystal droplet-based biosensors for the detection of target analytes such as bacteria or viruses in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process of preparing microcapsules in a UV curable water immiscible phase. The microcapsules formed according to the invention contain an aqueous phase core. The process comprises dispersing a water soluble or dispersible core material along with at least one wall forming prepolymer and a polycondensation polymerization catalyst into an aqueous solution. The aqueous phase is then dispersed into the water immiscible phase comprising UV curable monomers or oligomers forming droplets of the aqueous phase solution in the water immiscible phase. Polycondensation of the prepolymers is initiated to form polymeric wall material or microcapsules at or near the interface of the water immiscible solvent and droplets of aqueous phase solution. Following capsule formation, a UV initiator is dispersed in the water immiscible phase. The UV curable dispersion containing aqueous microcapsules can be coated on a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aminoplast-membrane single-core or multi-core microcapsules whose core is comprised of at least two organic and/or inorganic compounds. The invention also relates to methods of preparing said microcapsules.

Abstract: Lipobeads (liposome-encapsulated hydrogels) combine properties of hydrogels and liposomes to create systems that are sensitive to environmental conditions and respond to changes in those conditions in a fast time scale. Lipobeads may be produced by polymerizing anchored or unanchored hydrogels within liposomes or by mixing anchored or unanchored hydrogels with liposomes. Giant lipobeads may be produced by shrinking unanchored nanogels in lipobeads and fusing the resulting lipobead aggregates, long-term aging of anchored or unanchored lipobeads, or mixing anchored or unanchored aggregated nanogels with liposomes. Poly(acrylamide), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-1-vinylimidazole) lipobeads were produced and characterized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing microcapsules by coacervation, and to the use of transglutaminase for cross-linking in complex coacervation. The present invention relates further to coacervation processes in general in which a material to be encapsulated is added to a solution comprising at least one colloid below the gelling temperature of the colloid. According to a method of the present invention, an emulsion or suspension of hydrophobic material is prepared after cooling a solution that includes hydrocolloids below the critical gelling temperature of a coacervate phase.

Abstract: This chewable capsule has an encapsulating shell and a filling contained within the encapsulating shell, in which outer diameter of the above encapsulating shell ranges from 14 mm to 25 mm, and mass of the above encapsulating shell, ranges from 10% to 20% of the total mass of the chewable capsule, the quantity of the above filling contained within the above encapsulating shell ranges from 1400 mg to 3000 mg, and gelatin is contained in the above encapsulating shell.

Abstract: Colloidosomes having tunable properties, methods for making the same, and applications thereof are described. Colloidosomes described herein are responsive to certain external stimulus to alter one or more properties of the colloidosome. Methods for making colloidosomes include forming a shell of colloidal particles on a core material where the colloidal particles and the core material have attractive interactions.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to prepare liposome-encapsulated bioactive agents such as nucleic acids, comprising complexation of the bioactive agents in reverse micelles prior to forming liposomes, as well as methods of using the liposomes so formed and formulations to deliver nucleic acids to cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a complex coacervation process based on the use of type B gelatin as polycationic colloid, for the preparation of “Halal” certified flavor-containing microcapsules.

Abstract: This invention relates to liposomal antineoplastic agents (e.g., camptothecin) compositions and methods of using such compositions for treating neoplasia and for inhibiting angiogenesis. The compositions and methods are useful for modulating the plasma circulation half-life of an active agent.

Abstract: A stabilized emulsion is employed to produce shelf stable, controlled release, discrete, solid particles or pellets which contain an encapsulated and/or embedded component, such as a readily oxidizable component, such as omega-3 fatty acids. An oil encapsulant component which contains an active, sensitive encapsulant, dissolved and/or dispersed in an oil is admixed with an aqueous component and a film-forming component to form an emulsion. An antioxidant for prevention of oxidation of the active, sensitive encapsulant, and a film-softening component or plasticizer for the film-forming component may be included in the emulsion. The emulsion is stabilized by subjecting it to homogenization. The pellets are produced by first reducing the water content of the stabilized emulsion so that the film-forming component forms a film around the oil droplets and encapsulates the encapsulant. In embodiments of the invention, the water content of the homogenized emulsion may be reduced by spray-drying to produce a powder.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating cisplatin and other positively-charged drugs into liposomes having a different lipid composition between their inner and outer membrane bilayers is disclosed. The liposomes are able to reach primary tumors and their metastases after intravenous injection to animals and humans. The encapsulated cisplatin has a high therapeutic efficacy in eradicating a variety of solid human tumors including but not limited to breast carcinoma and prostate carcinoma. Combination of the encapsulated cisplatin with encapsulated doxorubicin or with other antineoplastic drugs are claimed to be of therapeutic value. Also of therapeutic value in cancer eradication are claimed to be combinations of encapsulated cisplatin with a number of anticancer genes including but not limited to p53, IL-2, IL-12, angiostatin, and oncostatin encapsulated into liposomes as well as combinations of encapsulated cisplatin with HSV-tk plus encapsulated ganciclovir.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel compositions and methods for treating diseases caused by cellular proliferation, particularly, for treating cancer in mammals and more particularly in humans. The therapeutic compositions of the present invention include SN-38 lipid complexes in which the complexes can contain any of a variety of neutral or charged lipids and, desirably, cardiolipin. The compositions are capable of efficiently incorporating SN-38 into complexes and are capable of solubilizing relatively high concentrations of SN-38.

Abstract: A description is given of the use of a nanodispersion, which comprises (a) a membrane-forming molecule, (b) a coemulsifier and (c) a lipophilic component, in cosmetic end formulation, which nanodispersion is obtainable by (?) mixing the components (a), (b) and (c) until a homogeneous clear liquid is obtained, and (?) adding the liquid obtained in, step (?) to the water phase of the cosmetic end formulations, steps (?) and (?) being carried out without any additional supply of energy. The nanodispersions used according to this invention can be easily prepared and are suitable as carrier systems for a very wide range of cosmetic active agents and oil-soluble dyes.

Abstract: Microencapsulated particles having improved resistance to moisture and extended release capabilities are produced by microencapsulating the particles in a film-forming, cross-linked, hydrolyzed polymer.

Abstract: Highly efficient cationic liposomes have been developed as an improved delivery system for biologically-active reagents. A novel structure, the sandwich liposome, is formed and comprises one or more biologically active agents internalized between two bilomellar liposomes. This structure protects the incoming agent and accounts for the high efficiency of in vivo delivery and for the broad tissue distribution of the sandwich liposome complexes. These novel liposomes are also highly efficient carriers of nucleic acids. By using extruded DOTAP:cholesterol liposomes to form complexes with DNA encoding specific proteins, expression has been improved dramatically. Highest expression was achieved in the lung, while increased expression was detected in several organs and tissues.

Abstract: A microcapsule is produced by dispersing a liquid organic dispersion in an aqueous medium to form a capsule particle in the aqueous medium, the liquid organic dispersion containing an acid group-containing resin, a colored particle and an organic solvent, and the capsule particle comprising a disperse system containing the liquid organic dispersion, and a wall encapsulating the disperse system, wherein the acid group of the resin has been at least partly neutralized with an alkanolamine. The wall comprises the resin, and the resin may be crosslinked or cured with a crosslinking agent. Moreover, the process may comprise crosslinking or curing the resin constituting the wall with the crosslinking agent, and further crosslinking or curing the residual crosslinking agent with a polyfunctional compound. Such a process can produce a microcapsule has a small and uniform particle size while encapsulating a disperse system dispersed a colored particle in an oil phase.

Abstract: A microcapsule encapsulating a disperse system is produced by preparing a liquid organic dispersion containing a resin whose acid group has been neutralized, a colored particle, and an organic solvent; dispersing the liquid organic dispersion in an aqueous medium to produce a capsule particle in the aqueous medium, the capsule particle comprising a disperse system in which the colored particle is dispersed in the organic solvent, and a wall encapsulating the disperse system; and separating the capsule particle from the aqueous medium for dryness. The liquid organic dispersion may comprise, as an organic solvent, a hydrophobic organic solvent and a polar solvent dissolving the resin constituting the wall and being miscible to the aqueous medium. The wall of the capsule particle may be crosslinked or cured with a crosslinking agent. The microcapsule is utilized for an image display device in which the colored particle is electrophoretically movable in the oil phase by a potential difference.

Abstract: This invention provides an aqueous/t-butanol solvent-system, facile reconstitute, submicron-reconsitiute preliposome-lyophilaye and method of its preparation and use. In one embodiment this entails a modified method for the preparation of a submicron and stable liposome formulation of the non-cross-resistant anthracycline Annamycin is described. The optimal lipid composition was DMPC:DMPG at a 7:3 molar ratio and the optimal lipid:drug weight ratio 50:1. The selected formulation is a preliposome lyophilized powder that contains the phospholipids, Annamycin, and 1.7 mg Tween 20 per mg of Annamycin. The liposome suspension is obtained on the day of use by adding normal saline at 37° C. (1 ml per mg Annamycin) and hand-shaking for one minute. The presence of Tween 20 is essential in shortening the reconstitution step (from >2 hours to 1 minute), avoiding the early formation of free drug crystals, and reducing the median particle size (from 1.5 ?m to 0.15-0.20 ?m) without destruction of the liposome vesicles.

Abstract: This invention relates to encapsulation of drugs and other agents into liposomes.

Abstract: The present invention provides biocompatible vesicles comprising semi-permeable, thin-walled encapsulating membranes which are formed in an aqueous solution, and which comprise one or more synthetic super-amphiphilic molecules. When at least one super-amphiphile molecule is a block copolymer, the resulting synthetic vesicle is termed a “polymersome.” The synthetic, reactive nature of the amphiphilic composition enables extensive, covalent cross-linking of the membrane, while maintaining semi-permeability. Cross-linking of the polymer building-block components provides mechanical control and long-term stability to the vesicle, thereby also providing a means of controlling the encapsulation or release of materials from the vesicle by modifying the composition of the membrane. Thus, the encapsulating membranes of the present invention are particularly suited for the reliable, durable and controlled transport, delivery and storage of materials.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display that includes a first substrate having a pixel electrode, a second substrate having a common electrode, and a microcapsule interposed between the first and second substrates, a display material being encapsulated in the microcapsule, an optical characteristic of the display material changing in response to an electrical stimulus. The method includes: selectively disposing a microcapsule material that includes the microcapsule on a display area formed of the pixel electrode of the first substrate or an area, of the second substrate, corresponding to the display area; drying the microcapsule material; and joining the first substrate to the second substrate after the drying.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a microcapsule which can effectively and easily achieve: the prevention and adjustment of the bleeding-out of the encapsulated liquid substance from the capsule shell; and the enhancement and adjustment of the physical strength of the microcapsule; and to further provide a sheet and an electrophoretic display, both of which involve using the above microcapsules. As means of achieving these objects, the microcapsule according to the present invention is a microcapsule comprising a shell and a liquid substance that is encapsulated in the shell, with the microcapsule being characterized in that the shell contains fine particles having particle diameters of not larger than 1 ?m. And the sheet according to the present invention comprises the microcapsules according to the present invention and a binder resin or comprises the microcapsules according to the present invention and a base material.

Abstract: A process for producing parenterally administrable microparticles, in which an at least 20% by weight aqueous solution of purified amylopectin-based starch of reduced molecular weight is prepared, the solution is combined with biologically active substance, an emulsion of starch droplets is formed in an outer phase of polymer solution, the starch droplets are made to gel, and the gelled starch particles are dried. A release-controlling shell is optionally also applied to the particles. Microparticles which essentially consist of said starch, have an amino acid content of less than 50 ?g and have no covalent chemical cross-linking.

Abstract: A microencapsulation apparatus is provided which is configured to form co-axial multi-lamellar microcapsules from materials discharged from first and second microsphere dispensers of the apparatus. A method of fabricating and processing microcapsules is also provided which includes forming distinct droplets comprising one or more materials and introducing the droplets directly into a solution bath to form a membrane around the droplets such that a plurality of microcapsules are formed. A microencapsulation system is provided which includes a microcapsule production unit, a fluidized passage for washing and harvesting microcapsules dispensed from the microcapsule production unit and a flow sensor for sizing and counting the microcapsules. In some embodiments, the microencapsulation system may further include a controller configured to simultaneously operate the microcapsule production unit, fluidized passage and flow sensor to process the microcapsules in a continuous manner.

Abstract: Copolymers of lactide and glycolide with high glycolide content. The average glycolate block length is less then about 3, which allows the copolymer to be soluble in slightly polar solvents such as methylene chloride.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a novel method for encapsulating in liposomes substantially water immiscible carotenoids. Therefore, there are provided by the present invention formulations comprising liposomes loaded with an amount of at least one water immiscible carotenoid, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a formulation, and a method for preparing the liposomes loaded with said carotenoid.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating encapsulated particles from empty shells. One method involves providing a mixture including at least one dipolar particle encapsulated in a shell and at least one shell which does not encapsulate a dipolar particle. The mixture is positioned in a spatially inhomogeneous electric or magnetic field and at least one encapsulated dipolar particle is isolated from the mixture.

Abstract: There are provided thermotropic liquid crystal polymer microcapsules which can show behavior of liquid crystal as it is within polymer phase due to phase separation between liquid crystal and polymer, so to be incorporated into cosmetic composition as an additive for visual effect, and in loading active ingredients within liquid crystal, can improve the stability of the active ingredients in cosmetic base; and a method for preparing the same; and cosmetic compositions containing the same.

Abstract: Methods and compositions to induce opioid drug independence in opioid drug dependent individuals comprising administering opioid agonists and/or antagonists encapsulated in biodegradable polymer microspheres in a dosage formulation.

Abstract: A series of paraffin compounds, the phase change materials (PCMs), were microencapsulated in an interfacial polymerization process to form the double-shell microcapsules with relatively low shell permeability. The inner shell is formed through the reaction between polypropylene glycols and bifunctional polyisocyanates and the outer through the reaction between bifunctional polyisocyanates and polyamines added in the continuous aqueous phase. The so prepared microencapsulated paraffin compounds emulsion can be used as the medium for temperature management in many fields.

Abstract: A parenterally administrable, biodegradable microparticle preparation containing a biologically active substance which, during the first 24 hours after injection, exhibits a release of the active substance that is less than 25% of the total release, determined from a concentration-time curve in the form of the ratio between the area under the curve during the said first 24 hours and the total area under the curve in question

Abstract: Liposomes containing lipophilic active ingredient are produced by dehydrating a mixture of liposomes, lipophilic active ingredient and sugar, usually followed by a rehydration step to form dehydration-rehydration vesicles. The lipophilic drug is suitably paclitaxel. The sugar is usually sucrose. The liposome forming compounds preferably include cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine, and optionally an anionic lipid. The ratio of sugar:lipid is preferably at least 5:1 w/w. The ratio of lipid:drug is preferably (up to 10):1 w/w.

Abstract: A microcapsule in which a capsule wall of the microcapsule comprises a first polymer component. A surface of the capsule wall is modified with a second polymer component that is formed from a monomer having an ethylenic unsaturated bond.

Abstract: A description is given of the use of a nanodispersion, which comprises (a) a membrane-forming molecule, (b) a coemulsifier and (c) a lipophilic component, in cosmetic end formulation, which nanodispersion is obtainable by (?) mixing the components (a), (b) and (c) until a homogeneous clear liquid is obtained, and (?) adding the liquid obtained in step (?) to the water phase of the cosmetic end formulations, steps (?) and (?) being carried out without any additional supply of energy. The nanodispersions used according to this invention can be easily prepared and are suitable as carrier systems for a very wide range of cosmetic active agents and oil-soluble dyes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipecolic acid derivative-containing liposome preparation having has an excellent rapid action capable of coping with an emergent situation such as cerebral infarction. A liposome preparation characterized by comprising, as an active ingredient, a pipecolic acid derivative of the ingredient described in the present specification or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof entrapped into liposomes, wherein lecithin is mainly used as the liposome-forming lipid, said liposome preparation containing no cholesterol as a stabilizer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a liposome preparation having excellent rapid action and excellent redispersion into aqueous medium. The present invention provides a method for producing a liposome preparation by vacuum drying wherein liposome condensed solution, which is obtained by removing solvent from liposome solution, is subjected to vacuum drying without freezing while bubbling the condensed solution or after the condensed solution is bubbled.

Abstract: Microcapsules comprising an agglomeration of primary microcapsules, each individual primary microcapsule having a primary shell and the agglomeration being encapsulated by an outer shell, may be prepared by providing an aqueous mixture of a loading substance and a shell material, adjusting pH, temperature, concentration and/or mixing speed to form primary shells of shell material around the loading substance and cooling the aqueous mixture until the primary shells agglomerate and an outer shell of shell material forms around the agglomeration. Such microcapsules are useful for storing a substance and for delivering the substance to a desired environment.

Abstract: Described herein are microcapsules and emulsions prepared from low Bloom gelatin and methods of making and using thereof.

Abstract: A liposome suspension forms spontaneously upon adding a lipid composition to an aqueous solution. The liposomes include diacylglycerol-PEG compounds. The melting point of the diacylglycerol-PEG is below about 40 degrees C., and the acyl chains of the diacylglycerol-PEG are greater than or equal to 14 carbons in length. Such liposome suspensions are useful for a variety of purposes, including the delivery of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A process for disposing of solvent-containing liquids so that they do not contaminate ground water. An absorbent blend is mixed into a water-containing solvent mixture at the rate of about 1 lb. of blend per gallon of liquid. The blend is made up of a swellable polymer, consisting of polyacrylamide/polyacrylate co-polymer salt or poly 2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid homopolymer salt which swells and absorbs liquid. The blend also contains a mixture of solid absorbents. The resulting mixture is stirred in the container until it becomes thick and then it is allowed to set to provide a disposable modeling clay-like solid. The resulting solid material, after curing, may be then simply added to solid trash, and thus, be freed from contaminating ground water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous method to prepare encapsulated cyclopropenes, a method to purify cyclopropene gas, and a method to prepare an ?-cyclodextrin/cyclopropene complex.

Abstract: Long-term local anesthesia is provided by administering to a subject in need thereof a liposomal anesthetic formulation prepared by the dehydration-rehydration method. In this method, lyophilized liposomes encapsulating the local anesthetic are rehydrated by agitating them in an aqueous medium. Preferably this method includes the further step of washing the rehydrated liposomes in hyperosmotic saline solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel encapsulation compositions and methods. In particular, the invention relates to fluorescent capsule compositions, which consists of a layer of a polymer shell enclosing one or more fluorescent materials such as fluorescent microspheres and which are capable of emitting at least two distinct fluorescent signals. Also provided are methods for their preparation. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful in a variety of applications, including preparation of multiplexed arrays for industrial, chemical, immunological, and genetic manipulation and analysis especially as related but not limited to flow cytometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microcapsule dispersions comprising microcapsules having a capsule core comprising water-soluble organic substances, and a capsule coating which essentially consists of polyurethane and/or polyurea, in a hydrophobic solvent which consists of 50 to 100% by weight of glycerol ester oils and 0 to 50% by weight of solvents miscible with glycerol ester oils, and to a process for their preparation.

Abstract: Methods of making microcapsules and microcapsules comprising a core material and a shell material with substantially different dielectric constants and dissipation factors. Exposure to appropriate electromagnetic energy selectively (a) heats the core material with the higher dielectric constant and dissipation factor, directly or indirectly fusing the shell material and forming microcapsules, or (b) hardens polymerized shell material, which has a high dielectric constant and dissipation factor.

Abstract: The invention concerns composite nanospheres having a diameter ranging between about 50 and 1000 nm plus or minus 5%, preferably between about 100 and 500 nm plus or minus 5% and advantageously between 100 and 200 nm plus or minus 5%, and comprising an essentially liquid core consisting of an organic phase and inorganic nanoparticles, distributed inside the organic phase, and a skin consisting of at least a hydrophilic polymer derived from the polymerisation of at least one water soluble monomer, in particular N-alkylacrylamide or a N—N-dialkylacrylamide; conjugates derived from said nanospheres; their preparation methods and their uses.