A method for the production of a microcapsule, in particular a microcapsule of spherical shape having a hollow capsule space therein, includes the steps of: a) preparing of a suspension of particulate cementitious material in a solvent b) preparing a dispersion by mixing the suspension of step a) with an immiscible fluid so that (i) the suspension is present as a dispersed phase in the fluid as a dispersion medium or that (ii) the fluid is present as the dispersed phase in the suspension as the dispersion medium, such that the particulate material of the suspension adsorbs at least partially at a phase boundary between the fluid and the suspension, and c) allowing the particulate material adsorbed at the phase boundary to hydrate with the formation of a microcapsule.

The invention provides multivalent surface-crosslinked micelle (SCM) particles, crosslinked reverse micelle (CRM) particles, and methods of making and using them. The SCM particles can be used, for example, to inhibit a virus or bacteria from binding to a host cell. The inhibition can be used in therapy for the flu, cancer, or AIDS. The CRM particles can be used, for example, to prepare metal nanoparticles or metal alloy nanoparticles, or they can be used in catalytic reactions.

Hollow silica-based particles having cavities inside the outer shell having a low refractive index. The method of producing the silica-based particles comprises the following steps (a) and (b): (a) a step in which, when an aqueous silicate solution and/or an acidic silicic acid solution and an aqueous solution of an alkali-soluble inorganic compound are simultaneously added in an alkali aqueous solution to prepare a dispersion liquid of composite oxide particles, an electrolytic salt is added at the molar ratio of a mole number of the electrolytic salt (M.sub.E) versus that of SiO.sub.2 (M.sub.S) [(M.sub.E)/(M.sub.S)] in the range from 0.1 to 10, and (b) a step of furthermore adding an electrolytic salt, if necessary, to the dispersion liquid of composite oxide particles and then removing at least a portion of elements constituting the composite oxide other than silicon by adding an acid to prepare a dispersion liquid of silica-based particles.

The present invention generally relates to colloids and methods for changing the arrangement of droplet phases. In some embodiments, the colloids and methods comprise a plurality of droplets comprising two or more components, such that the two or more components can change arrangement of the components in the presence of an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the change in component arrangement is reversible. In certain embodiments, the change in component arrangement forms Janus droplets.

A method of making a chemiluminescent label by creating an outer layer of the chemiluminiscent label, creating a bottom layer of the chemiluminiscent label, and fusing the outer layer and the bottom layer to form at least one cavity between the outer layer and the bottom layer. The outer layer includes an image with a first plurality of regions. The bottom layer includes an adhesion material on a side not proximate to the outer layer, and a second plurality of regions corresponding to the first plurality of regions that are configured to break at a plurality of different pressure values.

A method for the production of a microcapsule, in particular a microcapsule of spherical shape having a hollow capsule space therein, includes the steps of: a) preparing of a suspension of particulate cementitious material in a solvent b) preparing a dispersion by mixing the suspension of step a) with an immiscible fluid so that (i) the suspension is present as a dispersed phase in the fluid as a dispersion medium or that (ii) the fluid is present as the dispersed phase in the suspension as the dispersion medium, such that the particulate material of the suspension adsorbs at least partially at a phase boundary between the fluid and the suspension, and c) allowing the particulate material adsorbed at the phase boundary to hydrate with the formation of a microcapsule.

A chemiluminescent product packaging label comprising an outer layer, an adhesive layer disposed proximately to the outer layer wherein the adhesive layer comprises an adhesion material on a side not proximate to the outer layer, and at least one cavity between the outer layer and the adhesive layer. The outer layer further comprises an image with a first plurality of regions. The adhesion layer comprises a second plurality of regions corresponding to the first plurality of regions and configured to break at a plurality of different pressure values. Application of pressure on the on at least one of the second plurality of regions causes the formation of an illumination comprising at least one color in at least one of the first plurality of regions.

The invention provides delivery systems comprised of stabilized multilamellar vesicles, as well as compositions, methods of synthesis, and methods of use thereof. The stabilized multilamellar vesicles may comprise prophylactic, therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents.

The present invention generally relates to microparticles and, in particular, to systems and methods for encapsulation within microparticles. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to microparticles containing entities therein, where the entities contain an agent that can be released from the microparticles, e.g., via diffusion. In some cases, the agent may be released from the microparticles without disruption of the microparticles. The entities may be, for instance, polymeric particles, hydrogel particles, droplets of fluid, etc. The entities may be contained within a fluid that is, in turn, encapsulated within the microparticle. The agent may be released from the entity into the fluid, and then from the fluid through the microparticle. In such fashion, the release of agent from the microparticle may be controlled, e.g., over relatively long time scales. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making such microparticles, methods of using such microparticles, microfluidic devices for making such microparticles, and the like.

In one aspect, radioactive nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a radioactive nanoparticle described herein comprises a metal nanoparticle core, an outer metal shell disposed over the metal nanoparticle core, and a metallic radioisotope disposed within the metal nanoparticle core or within the outer metal shell. In some cases, the radioactive nanoparticle has a size of about 30-500 nm in three dimensions. In addition, in some embodiments, the radioactive nanoparticle further comprises an inner metal shell disposed between the metal nanoparticle core and the outer metal shell. The metal nanoparticle core, outer metal shell, and inner metal shell of the radioactive nanoparticle can have various metallic compositions.