The present disclosure relates to supraparticles loaded with high levels of payload and having controlled payload release profiles. In particular, supraparticles made of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and elecrosprayed with alginic acid which is then coated or formulated with biodegradable materials is disclosed. Such supraparticles may be used in a range of therapeutic applications.

A hydrogel delivery composition and method, including degradable microcapsules suspended in a degradable thermo-responsive hydrogel. The hydrogel is thermo-responsive at a physiological temperature and changes after application to a more solid state due to body temperatures. The composition includes one or more treatment agents to be released over time as the composition degrades. The composition can be varied to modify the structure and/or release of the treatment agent. The degradable microcapsules include one or more of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2), bovine serum albumin (BSA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and sucrose to improve release duration.

Disclosed are controlled release particles including: (a) a core including at least one vitamin which is oil-soluble or oil-dispersible; and (b) a wall at least partially surrounding the core, wherein the controlled release particles are produced by reacting (i) a first composition including a hydrophobic oil, the at least one vitamin, an anti-oxidant and a wax with (ii) a second composition including a water soluble emulsifier, a corn protein and a solvent to form an intermediate product, which is mixed with (iii) a third composition including a cellulosic polymer in water, and dehydrated to provide the controlled release particles. A method for preparing the particles and compositions containing the particles are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a process for coating water-insoluble solids by ionic gelation employing negatively-charged macromolecules and a source of polyvalent cations as film-forming materials, wherein the coating material represents not more than 10% (w/w) with regard to the total weight of the coated solid. The coated insoluble solids may be subsequently dried to generate surface-modified dry particles for use as active ingredients and/or excipients in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions or food products.

The present invention relates to an annexin-coated particle, comprising a negatively charged phospholipid and an annexin non-covalently coupled thereto. The present invention further relates to a composition comprising an annexin-coated particle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a product for use in a method of preventing or treating a disease selected from a chronic inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease, an allergy, and a cancer, said product comprising an annexin-coated particle, and/or a composition. The present invention further relates to a method of preparing an annexin-coated particle.

The present invention provides a hydrogel capsule comprising a cell, a protein, and a cross-linking agent; wherein the cell is within a first core layer comprising the protein; and wherein the first core layer is surrounded by a second layer comprising the protein and the cross-linking agent. The invention further provides the hydrogel capsule for use in therapy, prognosis and diagnosis, a method for culturing cells, a method for differentiating cells, and method for producing the hydrogel capsule. The hydrogel capsules of the invention are particularly useful for encapsulating pancreatic islets

This disclosure relates to microcapsule particles for targeted delivery of drugs. In certain embodiments, the particles comprise polyelectrolyte polymers, e.g., layers of anionic polymers and cationic polymers. In certain embodiments, the particles have a fibrinogen coating. In certain embodiments, the particles contain a polysaccharide core and/or a polysaccharide coating encapsulating drugs, proteins, clotting agents, coagulation factors, or anticoagulants. In certain embodiments, this disclosure contemplates methods of using particles disclosed herein to prevent or reduce onset of or duration of bleeding. In certain embodiments, this disclosure contemplates methods of using particles disclosed herein to prevent or reduce onset of blood clotting.

A composition comprising a core material, having a taste value and a polymeric coating. The polymeric coating substantially surrounds the core material and comprises a cationic polymer and optionally an anionic polymer. The polymeric coating has a uniform thickness ranging from 2 μm to 20 μm. The composition provides release of a portion of the core material which is taste masked over a time period ranging from 0.5 minute to 2 minutes in the oral cavity and provides a modified-release of the remaining core material in a gastrointestinal tract.

The devices, methods, and compositions disclosed herein accomplish robust cell encapsulation in polymer microparticles using a vertically oriented microfluidic device. A hydrophilic polymer precursor solution is flowed into a first inlet channel, which extends inward from an upper surface of the device housing. A hydrophobic fluid is flowed into a second inlet channel, which extends inward from a lower surface of the device housing. The two inlet channels meet at a junction, and an outlet channel extends away from the two inlet channels. When the two inwardly flowing streams meet at the junction, the polymer precursor solution disperses into the hydrophobic fluid. The dispersed precursor droplets are photopolymerized into microparticles as they travel through the outlet channel. The resulting microparticles are highly uniform, and are larger than conventionally formed microparticles. Cells of varying types can be encapsulated with high viability and spatial uniformity.

Methods and compositions for the immunization of animals and humans using an oral immunization or vaccine that comprises B. anthracis Sterne strain 34F2 spores suspended in alginate and coated with a shell containing poly-L-lysine (PEL), a vitelline protein B (VpB), or both and an external coating of alginate in an amount sufficient to protect an animal or human from a lethal dose of anthrax.