A method and an apparatus are described for the generation of microparticles containing an immobilized functional component, where the following measures are proposed: spraying a liquid (32) containing a soluble alginate and a functional component consisting of molecules or nanoparticles to generate a stream (60) of droplets, directing the stream (60) of droplets onto a precipitation bath (16) and capturing the droplets therein by application of high voltage (14), precipitating the droplets in the precipitation bath (16) via a precipitation liquid (18) containing an alginate complexing agent, such that the droplets are solidified to form microparticles (10) containing the functional component and extracting the microparticles (10) from the precipitation bath (16).

The invention relates to an extract of Ashwagandha that exhibit enhanced bioactivity and bioavailability comprising of enriched withanolide glycosides and saponins; with negligible amount of alkaloids, withanolide aglycones and oligosaccharides. The extract as disclosed prepared from root, stems, leaves and whole plant of Ashwagandha further shows improved immunomodulatory activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti stress activity, antidiabetic activity and sleep quality. The disclosure also provides a method of improving bioactivity of withanolide glycosides even at lower doses, by the administration of an enteric coaled formulation of extract of Ashwagandha to humans. The enteric coaling protects the composition from hydrolysis in the acidic environment of the stomach to release the withanolide glycoside in neutral/alkaline pH in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) thus enhancing the absorption. Further the process of preparation of the extract of Ashwagandha enriched with withanolide glycosides and saponins are disclosed along with various formulations.

Methods for preparing capsules, such as micro- and/or nanocapsules from all-aqueous emulsions are described herein. The method includes mixing, combining, or contacting a first electrically charged phase containing a first solute with at least an optionally charged second phase containing a second solute. The solutes are incompatible with each other. The electrostatic forces between the two solutions induce the formation of droplets of a dispersed phase in a continuous phase. The droplets are then solidified to form the capsules.

In one aspects of the invention, a microcapsule includes a film encapsulating a material. The film is formed by complexation of at least two mutually attractive components initially present in an aqueous dispersion comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The at least one first component is initially present in the continuous phase and the at least one second component is initially present in the dispersed phase. According to another aspect of the invention, provided is a process for forming microcapsules including the step of injecting a dispersed phase having at least a first component into a continuous phase having at least a second component, where the first component and the second component are mutually attractive, such that a film is formed by complexation of the first charged component and the second charged component.

The microcapsules and process of making describe a novel core shell microcapsule. The microcapsule incorporates a polysaccharide such as chitosan into the microcapsule wall forming the shell. The microcapsule shell is formed by dissolving chitosan into a material of structure ##STR00001##
wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, or a cyano group; and each y is independently an integer from 1 to 8, and reacting with a multifunctional (meth)acrylate.

A pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition, contains a) a core a), containing a pharmaceutical or a nutraceutical active ingredient and b) a coating layer b), containing a mixture of 80 to 96% by weight of a water-insoluble (meth)acrylate polymer and 4 to 20% by weight of guar gum, wherein the water-insoluble (meth)acrylate polymer contains polymerized units of more than 95 and up to 100% by weight C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl esters of acrylic acid or of methacrylic acid and less than 5% by weight of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

In one embodiment the invention provides a capsule for the oral administration of biopharmaceuticals to the gastrointestinal system. The capsule includes a capsule shell enveloping a lipophilic matrix permeated with discrete microcapsules. Each microcapsule is a hydrophilic matrix formed of an internal phase comprising an aqueous medium, stabilized into a discrete structure by a colloidal polymer, and containing the biopharmaceutical(s). The colloidal polymer typically is a hydrocolloid or an amphiphilic colloidal polymer.

This disclosure is directed to methods of treating a subject with a fibrotic or fibroproliferative disease, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of an anti-fibrosis agent, e.g., a CXCR4 and/or CXCR7 binding agent, such as CXCL12.

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form for oral administration comprising a pharmacologically active compound; wherein a portion of said pharmacologically active compound is contained in a multitude of immediate release particles providing immediate release of the pharmacologically active compound; wherein another portion of said pharmacologically active compound is contained in at least one controlled release particle providing controlled release of the pharmacologically active compound; and wherein the breaking strength of each of the immediate release particles and/or of the at least one controlled release particle is at least 300 N.

Therapeutic compositions are disclosed which contain a therapeutic agent and a bile acid or bile acid conjugate. The compositions can be absorbed via enterohepatic circulation. The compositions include a cationic moiety and an anionic polymer, which are coupled through electrostatic interactions. The therapeutic compositions can be used for the treatment of diseases or disorders.