Abstract: Disclosed is a light-sensitive material comprising a support and a light-sensitive layer provided thereon which contains silver halide, a reducing agent and an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound. The silver halide and the polymerizable compound are contained in oily droplets. The oily droplets are a core material of microcupsules. The oily droplet has a film therearound which is composed of a reaction product of a water-soluble polymer having a sulfinyl group with an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound.

Abstract: Drug units are targeted to blood clot matter and release blood clot dissolving material for dissolving the blood clot to allow its subsequent removal from the blood vessel in the body of a living being. In a specific embodiment, drug units are formed of antifibrin antibodies and a blood clot dissolving agent encapsulated in a microcontainer or capsule to which such antibody is attached for release at the site of a targeted blood clot in an artery or vein.

Abstract: The invention is a process and apparatus for the manufacture of microcapsules. The microcapsules have a core which contains a liquid, gaseous, solid or multiple-phase material which is coated with an impermeable film. The microcapsules are formed by applying high pressure, for a short period of time, to a mixture of the core and shell material, and by gradually reducing the pressure, such as by passing the capsules through a baffled chamber. The invention also includes a method for adjusting the size of the microcapsules, and for adjusting the thickness of their shells. The microcapsules can be made with several shell layers, to increase their strength. They can also be made as multiple capsules, having two or more cores. The invention also includes a method and apparatus for making microcapsules in a continuous process. The present invention produces microcapsules in a small fraction of the time required by methods of the prior art.

Abstract: Drug delivery compositions yeild new and unexpected degrees of stabilization, solubilization and delivery of incorporated medicaments, drugs, or other physiologically-active compounds. The compositions enable administration of drugs and other medically useful compounds via a variety of routes. More particularly, a drug delivery system or composition including one or more monomeric or polymerized surface active agents allows for rapid dissolution and smooth liberation of any desired incorporated drug or combinations, and the method of preparing the drug composition. In one embodiment, the physiologically-active compound is encapsulated by a coacervate-derived film, and the finished product is suitable for transmucosal administration. Other formulations of this invention may be administered via inhalation, oral, parenteral and by transdermal and transmucosal routes.

Abstract: A method for sustained release of molecules from gels or microcapsules has been developed. The method is based on controlling the gel state using chelating agents or ion transfer. The method is particularly useful for controlling the rate of release of insolubilized proteins into physiological solutions.

Abstract: Novel functionallized liposomes containing a high-molecular-weight amphiphilic compound such as LPS etc. as one of matrix material have a very high encapsulation efficiency and readily undergo lysis. Moreover, antigen, antibody, etc. can be immobilized on the liposomes efficiently with a sufficient binding rate by using the amphiphilic compound as a spacer.

Abstract: A single step method for preparation of multi-layer polymeric delivery systems. Any two or three different degradable or non-degradable polymers which are not soluble in each other at a particular concentration, as dictated by their phase diagram, can be used. The multi-layer microcapsules produced by the method are distinguished by extremely uniform dimensioned layers of polymer and actual incorporation of the substance to be delivered into the polymer layers.In the preferred embodiment of the method, two polymers are dissolved in a volatile organic solvent, the substance to be encapsulated is dispersed or dissolved in the polymer solution, the mixture is suspended in an aqueous solution and stirred, and the solvent is slowly evaporated, creating microspheres with an inner core formed by one polymer and an outer layer formed by the second polymer. In another embodiment one polymer may be formed within a layer of the other polymer by increasing the rate of evaporation of the volatile solvent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a molded product of thermochromic polyvinyl chloride characterized by incorporating a thermochromic particulate material into a vinyl chloride plastisol comprising a vinyl chloride resin, plasticizer, stabilizer, lubricant and filler, and molding the resulting mixture. The thermochromic particulate material is prepared from particles of a non-thermoplastic resin having encapusated therein the three components of electron-donating chromogenic substance, electron-accepting substance and solvent by coating the particles with a hydrophilic high-molecular-weight compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved complex coacervation process for microencapsulation of core ingredients that are partially soluble in the microcapsule walls wherein the core ingredient is first mixed with a coacervation adjacent prior to forming a first colloidal emulsion of core ingredient, and, after combining the first emulsion with a second colloidal solution and cooling to cause gelation, a water-soluble wax derivative is added. No pH adjustment or dilution is necessary, and very high yields of non-agglomerated microcapsules are obtained, both in terms of quantity of microcapsules and content of core ingredient. When deet is the core ingredient there is obtained a long-lasting mosquito repellent.

Abstract: Permeable capsules are loaded with a reservoir of the substance to be dispensed at a concentration sufficient to provide an osmotic pressure above threshold level, and the pore size of the capsule membrane is controlled so that the passage of the substance through the membrane becomes the rate-limiting factor in dispensing. Shape-retaining spheres are formed from a water-soluble polymer containing plural anionic or cationic groups and cross-linking surface layers of the spheres by contact with a polymer having plural groups of charge opposite that of the water-soluble polymer. After loading, the capsules are again treated with the same or a different cross-linking polymer to reduce the dimensions of the pores.

Abstract: A process for preparing microcapsules containing a pharmaceutically active substance of a water soluble nature is provided, which involves dissolving a mixture containing at least one water soluble polyholoside or water soluble derivative of a polyholoside, at least one protein, and the pharmaceutically active substance in an alkaline aqueous solution having a pH preferably above 10, the solution being emulsified by dispersion within an immiscible organic solvent, by addition of an emulsifier of the water in oil type and by stirring. Thereafter, a reticulation agent dissolved in the same immiscible organic solvent is added to the previously obtained emulsion being stirred, and the stirring is continued until interfacial reticulation is achieved. The microcapsules are then isolated by diluting the reaction mixture with solvent, or a mixture of solvents and then centrifugation or decantation.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for maintaining reservoirs of bioactive agents by sequestering the reservoir in a gel matrix are described. In particular, liposomes containing an entrapped bioactive agent are sequestered in a gel matrix. The resulting liposome-gel compositions may be used in vivo or in vitro to provide for sustained release of the bioactive agent. The gel matrix inhibits the dispersion and clearance of the sequestered liposomes without interfering with the ability of the liposomes to release the entrapped bioactive agent. Furthermore, the rate of release of the bioactive agent from the liposome-gel compositions may be varied by altering the composition of the liposomes and/or gels.

Abstract: A composition and method for targeting and applying drugs or medication to a select location or locations within a living being. Drug units are produced, each of which is formed of at least one antibody, such as a monoclonal antibody, a small quantity of a medication such as a chemical or organic material and a small quantity of a nuclide which is normally inactive but which may be rendered explosively radioactive when targeted within a living body by external radiation passed through the body to the drug unit. When so rendered radioactive, the medication is released to infiltrate or be absorbed by surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting, monitoring and treating a malady such as a disease in a living being. In one form, a dose of a drug formed of a multitude of drug units containing antibodies and a nuclide or nuclides is administered to a living being having one or more disease sites, such as malignant tumors or other forms of malignancy wherein the antibodies target the units to antigens at the disease site. Such targeting concentration of drug units is detected by scanning radiation generated either by radioactive nuclides tagged to the drug units or by activating normally inactive nuclide material in the drug units with radiation such as neutrons generated externally of the living being and directed through the body.

Abstract: Improvements in methods for treating diseases and tumors with compositions of matter defining drug units, each of which includes an antibody, such as a monoclonal antibody produced outside of the body of a living being to be treated. Each unit contains a quantity of normally inactive nuclide capable of being rendered radioactive for treating a disease and a quantity of a second nuclide which may be normally inactive or radioactive, such as a radionuclide. The antibody is targeted to a specific antigen existing in the patient being treated. The drug units emit such radiation upon being activated within the body by radiation such as neutron radiation generated to detect the presence of a particular disease in a living being and to provide an indication of the location and extent of such disease.

Abstract: A core material such as viable cells is encapsulated by gelling an alginate polymer with a polyvalent cation to form shape-retaining gelled masses containing the core material, expanding and hydrating the gelled masses by contacting the masses with an aqueous saline solution, and forming a membrane about the expanded gelled massed to form capsules by contacting the gelled masses with a polycationic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 3,000 daltons. Expanding before membrane formation, permits better control of permeability properties and uniformity of the membrane. The gelled masses within the membrane may be liquified by contacting the capsules with a chelating agent which is preferably ethylene glycol bis-(.beta.-amino ethyl ether)-N,N-tetra-acetic acid. A second membrane layer may be formed by contacting the capsules with a second polycationic polymer. The second membrane may be coated with a polyanionic polymer such as alginate.

Abstract: Lipid matrix carriers are described which provide for the sustained release of bioactive agents in vivo or in vitro. The properties of the lipid matrix carriers of the present invention include high entrapment efficiencies; release of entrapped compounds in their active form; biodegradability and avoidance of vascular occlusion in vivo; and avoidance of sequestration of the bioactive agent in the liver and spleen.