Abstract:
Reactive polymeric surfactants are disclosed, and their use in processes for preparation of microcapsules, and in stabilising emulsions. The surfactants are random graft polymers or block copolymers which contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic units and in which the hydrophobic unit includes a hydrophilic cross-linking unit which reacts with (a) a wall forming ingredient in a microencapsulation process, or (b) an ingredient in the disperse phase of an emulsion.
Abstract:
Methods of producing polyphosphazene microspheres comprising admixing aqueous solutions of a water-soluble polyphosphazene and an organic amine, or salt thereof, are disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention is an encapsulated yeast composite comprising a core comprising yeast and a coating containing an emulsifiable lipid. The yeast includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The invention also relates to other encapsulated bioactive substance composites. The nature of the coating provides controlled release of the bioactive substance from the encapsulate. The encapsulated composites are useful in the production of food compositions, food products, and animal feed products.
Abstract:
A process for preparing nanoparticles and microparticles is provided. The process involves forming a mixture of a polymer and a solvent, wherein the solvent is present in a continuous phase and introducing the mixture into an effective amount of a nonsolvent to cause the spontaneous formation of microparticles.
Abstract:
A process for preparing particles of a substance, such as a protein or polypeptide, comprising: (a) preparing a first liquid comprising water, the substance and a modulator, wherein the modulator has a solubility in water which decreases with increasing temperature; and (b) contacting the first liquid with a second liquid comprising a fluid gas and an organic solvent using an anti-solvent fluid gas technique under conditions of temperature and pressure which result in the precipitation of particles comprising the substance, wherein the temperature of the first liquid is at or above the cloud point temperature of the first liquid when the first liquid contacts the second liquid. Also claimed are particles obtained according to the process and compositions containing the particles.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for preparing microcapsules by coacervation, wherein the cross-linking of a protein is carried out by a plant extract rich in substituted or unsubstituted phenolic compounds.
Abstract:
A method of forming polymeric microspheres for biomedical applications includes forming polymeric microspheres by an emulsion/aggregation process from a precursor monomer species, and treating the polymeric microspheres to attach a biomedical functional material to the polymeric microspheres, where the polymeric microspheres have an average particle diameter of from about 1 to about 15 microns with a narrow particle geometric size distribution. The biomedical functional material may be, for example, a radioactive material, a radioactive precursor material, a bioactive agent, or a ligand.
Abstract:
An improved method for preparing microparticles that exhibit controlled release of an effective amount of an active agent over an extended period of time. More particularly, a method is provided for preparing microparticles having a selected release profile for release of active agent contained in the microparticles. By adjusting the degree of drying that is performed during the preparation of the microparticles, the release profile can be controlled. By performing no intermediate drying, an initial burst and a substantially linear release profile is achieved. By performing substantially complete intermediate drying, an initial lag phase and a substantially sigmoidal release profile is achieved.
Abstract:
The invention provides a particulate construct such as microcapsules containing a drug, and serving a slow releasing preparation not associated with a practically unacceptable initial burst release but showing a practically acceptable zero-order release for a certain period and a producing method for such particulate construct, and a slow releasing preparation of a high drug content capable of stably incorporating the drug in the particulate construct such as microcapsules, and a producing method for such preparation. The invention also provides a particulate construct such as microcapsules utilizing a highly functional polymer compound and incorporating oil phase and/or water phase in solid phase, and a producing method therefor. Furthermore, the invention provides a particulate construct such as microcapsules having a hollow structure of a single polymer membrane as the outer shell and capable of containing many bubbles in the fine particles, and a producing method capable of preparing such construct with a high reproducibility. According to the invention, a particulate construct such as microcapsules is formed with polyhydroxyalkanoate of a specified structure and a drug for a desired purpose, an oil phase and/or a water phase, or a gaseous phase is included in such construct.
Abstract:
A method of forming microparticles (especially including a pharmaceutically active agent) comprising incorporating an emulsifier in an aqueous liquid or in a non-aqueous solution (e.g. of dichloromethane) containing a polymer; forming a dispersion of the aqueous liquid in the non-aqueous solution; and agitating and adding a non-solvent (e.g. silicone oil) for the polymer. The presence of the emulsifier allows microparticle production over a wide range of conditions.