Abstract: A method for preparing nanocrystal-metal oxide composites with long-term stability is disclosed herein. The nanocrystals are mixed with a first metal oxide precursor, a solvent and water to form a sol-gel composite. The sol-gel composite is pulverized to form a sol-gel composite powder. The sol-gel composite is then reacted with a second metal oxide precursor. The nanocrystal-metal oxide composites have a high luminescence efficiency and uniform emission wavelengths. The nanocrystal-metal oxide composite is used to manufacture a light-emitting device.

Abstract: A renewable material for releasing a self-healing agent includes a renewable polymeric substrate with capsules and a reactant dispersed in the renewable polymeric substrate. The capsules may be formed from a first renewable shell polymer and may enclose the renewable self-healing agent. The reactant may be suitable for reacting with the renewable self-healing agent to form a polymer.

Abstract: A method for making a cathode composite material of a lithium ion battery is disclosed. In the method, a composite precursor is formed. The composite precursor includes a cathode active material precursor and a coating layer precursor coated on a surface of the cathode active material precursor. The composite precursor is reacted with a lithium source chemical compound, to lithiate both the cathode active material precursor and the coating layer precursor in the composite precursor.

Abstract: A process for preparing water-absorbing polymer particles by coating water-absorbing polymer particles with a particulate solid in a mixer, wherein the particulate solid is dispersed by means of a gas stream and the supply of the dispersed particulate solid in the mixer ends below the product bed surface.

Abstract: The water dispersibility of water-soluble polymer particles can be improved by a method which comprises the following step: i) foaming a fluid composition comprising a compound A) having a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 or a water-insoluble polymer B) having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000; ii) contacting the produced foam with water-soluble polymer particles having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000; and iii) drying the particles, whereby the foam collapses during the contacting and/or drying step and the water-soluble polymer particles are encrusted with the compound having a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 or the water-insoluble polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000.

Abstract: The water dispersibility of water-soluble polymer particles can be improved by a method which comprises the following step: i) foaming a fluid composition comprising a compound A) having a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 or a water-insoluble polymer B) having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000; ii) contacting the produced foam with water-soluble polymer particles having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000; and iii) drying the particles, whereby the foam collapses during the contacting and/or drying step and the water-soluble polymer particles are encrusted with the compound having a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 or the water-insoluble polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000.

Abstract: A W/O emulsion is produced from an aqueous solution containing a substance to be entrapped in a vesicle in a dissolved or suspended state and an oil phase containing an emulsifier; subsequently, the W/O emulsion is cooled to a temperature at which the aqueous solution of the W/O emulsion becomes a frozen particle and the oil phase maintains a liquid state, and the oil phase is removed; thereafter, an oil phase containing a vesicle constituent lipid is added to the frozen particle, and the obtained mixture is then stirred, so as to substitute the emulsifier on the surface of the frozen particle with the vesicle constituent lipid; and thereafter, an external Water phase is added to the frozen particle coated with a lipid membrane, so as to hydrate the lipid membrane by the external water phase. This process achieves a high entrapment yield of a desired substance while controlling desired physical properties such as particle diameter.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for making solid, typically particulate, water-swellable material comprising coated water-swellable, preferably hydrogel-forming polymers, which are coated with a coating agent, which is such that it does not rupture when the polymers swell in a liquid, e.g., water or saline water. Hereto, the coating agent is extensible in wet state and comprises thereto a wet-extensible material that has a tensile stress at break in the wet state of at least 1 MPa. Typically, the coating agent comprises thereto an elastomeric polymeric material. The invention also relates to solid (particulate) water-swellable material obtainable by the process of the invention.

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: Coatings and methods are provided. An embodiment of the coating includes microcapsules that contain at least one of a corrosion inhibitor, a film-forming compound, and an indicator. The microcapsules are dispersed in a coating vehicle. A shell of each microcapsule breaks down in the presence of an alkaline condition, resulting from corrosion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an injectable composition of microparticles for the sustained release of a biologically active agent. The microparticles include a biocompatible polymer and a biologically active agent. The invention provides an improved process for the preparation of microparticles, wherein the physical characteristics of the microparticles, for example, the morphology, density and size, are independent of the process used to prepare the initially formed polymer/drug matrix. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a polymer/biologically active agent matrix; (b) compressing the polymer/biologically active agent matrix, thereby forming a compressed matrix; and (c) fragmenting the compressed matrix, thereby forming an injectable microparticle composition. The polymer/drug matrix can be provided by any suitable method.

Abstract: A polymer system and device with a hemocompatible film or coated polymers is provided, the polymer system comprises an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the organic phase comprises polymerizable monomers and at least one initiator and the aqueous phase comprises at least one dispersing agent, at least one free radical inhibitor and at least one buffering agent, the organic phase is immiscible in the aqueous phase, and the dispersing agent forms a hemocompatible surface on the polymer, and the device comprises a housing for containing the polymer system.

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: 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 polymer with a hemocompatible film or coating is manufactured by a one-step method comprising polymerizing monomer droplets comprising at least one crosslinking agent to form a polymer and simultaneously coating the resulting polymer using at least one dispersing agent to thereby form a hemocompatible coated polymer.

Abstract: A polymer system with a hemocompatible film or coating is provided, the system comprises an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the organic phase comprises polymerizable monomers and at least one initiator and the aqueous phase comprises at least one dispersing agent, at least one free radical inhibitor and at least one buffering agent, the organic phase is immiscible in the aqueous phase, and the dispersing agent forms a hemocompatible surface on the polymer.

Abstract: A polymer with a hemocompatible film or coating is manufactured by a one-step method comprising polymerizing monomer droplets comprising at least one crosslinking agent to form a polymer and simultaneously coating the resulting polymer using at least one dispersing agent to thereby form a hemocompatible coated polymer.

Abstract: The invention generally provides a method of coating a material, the method including the following steps: (a) forming a generally elongate coating structure (15), the coating structure having an internal cavity (17) extending at least substantially along its length, and wherein the internal cavity of the coating structure is capable of receiving a core material (21); (b) inserting a core material (21) into the internal cavity (17) of the coating structure (15); (c) compressing the coating structure at a first location (44) along its length so as generally to form a seal at that location; and (d) compressing the coating structure at a second location along its length (45).

Abstract: A process for forming microcapsules having substantially impermeable microcapsule walls comprising the steps of: forming an emulsion of an internal phase in a continuous aqueous phase, the internal phase including a photosensitive composition and a polyvalent isocyanate, the continuous aqueous phase including a sulfonated polystyrene, at least one of the internal phase or the continuous aqueous phase further including a hydrophilic polymer; and enwrapping particles of the internal phase in an amine-formaldehyde condensation product produced by in situ condensation of an amine and formaldehyde is disclosed.

Abstract: An edible microcapsule comprising a core and a capsule wall, wherein the core is an edible hydrophobic substance, the capsule wall is formed by salting-out of a combination of a protein and an edible salt, and transglutaminase is used as a crosslinking agent for hardening (solidifying) the capsule wall, and a food containing the edible microcapsule.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing microspheres, films and coatings from protein or modified protein in which the protein product is stabilized by carrying out the preparation in the presence of an aqueous solution of at least one &agr;-hydroxy acid. The microspheres, films and coatings so produced have improved stability in aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to colorant compositions containing neonanoplasts. The colorant compositions exhibit improved color brightness and brilliance due to the incorporation of one or more colorants in the neonanoplasts. The colorant compositions may be printed onto virtually any substrate. The colorant compositions of the present invention have particular utility in the area of printed textiles.

Abstract: System, method, and test strip for solid phase, electrochemical, quantitative analysis of analytes contained in biological fluid samples. Preliminary to analysis, a test sample solution can be applied to a sample collection pad associated with the solid phase test environment of the test strip. The test sample solution and a test kit reagent are thereby initially contacted, under assay conditions, within this solid phase test environment, and caused to migrate along a fluid pathway therein. Irrespective of the assay format (competitive assay, sandwich assay, etc.), a test kit reagent (e.g. labeled substance) and the analyte of interest (e.g.

Abstract: An edible microcapsule comprising a core and a capsule wall, wherein the core is an edible hydrophobic substance, the capsule wall is formed by salting-out of a combination of a protein and an edible salt, and transglutaminase is used as a crosslinking agent for hardening (solidifying) the capsule wall, and a food containing the edible microcapsule.

Abstract: Methods for preparing microspheres containing imidazole derivatives are provided. Also provided is the use of imidazole derivatives containing microspheres for treating fungal infections. Oral dosage forms for oral administration are also provided.

Abstract: A particle resistant to storage of at least one first and at least one second component, wherein said second component of at least one crosslinkable polymer as a shell at least partially envelops and/or encloses said first component as a core and said first component has at least one ascertainable property, obtainable by reacting said first component with the crosslinkable polymer and subsequently reacting the formed product with a crosslinking agent such that the first component with resistance to storage remains within the second component.

Abstract: A particle resistant to storage of at least one first and at least one second component, wherein

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for delivery of drugs intended to reside in the nose, compositions for nasal administration of drugs, e.g., antiviral agents, and particularly antiviral agents comprising the human major rhinovirus receptor, also known as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1); to methods of making said nasal drug compositions, and to an improved process for the removal of residual solvent from pharmaceutical matrices.

Abstract: This invention provides novel methods for the formation of biocompatible membranes around biological materials using photopolymerization of water soluble molecules. The membranes can be used as a covering to encapsulate biological materials or biomedical devices, as a “glue” to cause more than one biological substance to adhere together, or as carriers for biologically active species. Several methods for forming these membranes are provided. Each of these methods utilizes a polymerization system containing water-soluble macromers, species which are at once polymers and macromolecules capable of further polymerization. The macromers are polymerized using a photoinitiator (such as a dye), optionally a cocatalyst, optionally an accelerator, and radiation in the form of visible or long wavelength UV light. The reaction occurs either by suspension polymerization or by interfacial polymerization.

Abstract: A microencapsulated unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid compound or mixture of fatty acids and/or fatty acid compounds, and particularly an omega-3-fatty acid or omega-6-fatty acid or an ethyl ester or a glyceride thereof or a mixture of such fatty acids and/or fatty acid compounds. Fatty acid compounds are understood to include derivatives. Particles of the compounds are provided with capsule walls composed of two layers. The inner layer is composed of gelatin A, gelatine B. casein or an alginate, or of a derivative or salt of one of these polymers. The outer layer is composed of gelatin B, gum arabic, pectin or chitosan or a derivative or salt of one of these polymers.

Abstract: A process for forming microspheres that includes passing a first composition containing polymer and solvent through an orifice and directly into a second composition containing water and a microsphere-stabilizing agent, under at least one of conditions (a) and (b), wherein (a) the first composition flows through a first conduit along a first path and exits the first conduit at the orifice, the second composition flows through a second conduit along a second path in an upstream to downstream direction, the first conduit is connected to the second conduit and terminates at the orifice, the first and second paths being orientated at an angle &thgr; relative to each other, wherein 0°<&thgr;<180°; (b) the first composition being at a first temperature and including a solvent having a boiling point, the second composition being at a second temperature, the boiling point of the solvent being less than the second temperature; and forming a composition including water and microspheres, the microspheres b

Abstract: The invention relates to gel-coated microcapsules which have improved mechanical stress- and flame-resistance. A method for making the gel coated microcapsules is also provided. Phase change materials can be included in the microcapsules to provide thermal control in a wide variety of environments.