This invention generally relates to systems and methods for the formation and/or control of fluidic species, and articles produced by such systems and methods. In some cases, the invention involves unique fluid channels, systems, controls, and/or restrictions, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention allows fluidic streams (which can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e., droplets) to be formed and/or combined, at a variety of scales, including microfluidic scales. In one set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be produced from a channel, where a cross-sectional dimension of the fluidic stream is smaller than that of the channel, for example, through the use of structural elements, other fluids, and/or applied external fields, etc. In some cases, a Taylor cone may be produced. In another set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be manipulated in some fashion, for example, to create tubes (which may be hollow or solid), droplets, nested tubes or droplets, arrays of tubes or droplets, meshes of tubes, etc. In some cases, droplets produced using certain embodiments of the invention may be charged or substantially charged, which may allow their further manipulation, for instance, using applied external fields. Non-limiting examples of such manipulations include producing charged droplets, coalescing droplets (especially at the microscale), synchronizing droplet formation, aligning molecules within the droplet, etc. In some cases, the droplets and/or the fluidic streams may include colloids, cells, therapeutic agents, and the like.

A particulate poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) is provided. The particulate PLGA comprises a poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), and has an average volume-based particle diameter of 80 nm or less and a relative span factor (R.S.F.) satisfying the following formula (1):

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}0<R.S.F.\le 1.20& \mathrm{Formula}\left(1\right)\end{array}$

where R.S.F, is defined by (D90−D10)/D50, where D90, D50, and D10 respectively represent particle diameters at cumulative rates of 90%, 50%, and 10% by volume based on a cumulative particle size distribution counted from a small-particle side.

Provided is a method for manufacturing thermoplastic polymer particles, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a thermoplastic polymer resin to an extruder and extruding the same; supplying the extruded thermoplastic polymer resin and air to a nozzle, bringing the thermoplastic polymer resin into contact with the air to granulate the thermoplastic polymer resin, and then discharging the granulated thermoplastic polymer resin; and supplying discharged thermoplastic polymer particles to a cooling unit to cool the thermoplastic polymer particles, and then collecting the cooled thermoplastic polymer particles.

Provided is a method for manufacturing thermoplastic polymer particles, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a thermoplastic polymer resin to an extruder and extruding the same; supplying the extruded thermoplastic polymer resin and air to a nozzle, bringing the thermoplastic polymer resin into contact with the air to granulate the thermoplastic polymer resin, and then discharging the granulated thermoplastic polymer resin; and supplying discharged thermoplastic polymer particles to a cooling unit to cool the thermoplastic polymer particles, and then collecting the cooled thermoplastic polymer particles.

An apparatus to batch or continuously form solid polymer particles, the apparatus comprising the following components: A) at least one pastillation unit comprising a pastillation head, said unit used to form discrete molten polymer particles from a polymer melt; B) a moving belt to receive and transfer the discrete molten polymer particles from the pastillation head; C) a means to transfer water onto the moving belt, such that the water comes into contact with the discrete molten polymer particles on the moving belt to form the solid polymer particles; and wherein the water of component C is sprayed onto the discrete molten polymer particles, such that the ratio of “the rate of water spray” to “the discharge rate” is ≥3.0; and wherein the belt residence time is ≤50 seconds.

An apparatus to batch or continuously form solid polymer particles, the apparatus comprising the following components: A) at least one pastillation unit comprising a pastillation head, said unit used to form discrete molten polymer particles from a polymer melt; B) a moving belt to receive and transfer the discrete molten polymer particles from the pastillation head; C) a means to transfer water onto the moving belt, such that the water comes into contact with the discrete molten polymer particles on the moving belt to form the solid polymer particles; and wherein the water of component C is sprayed onto the discrete molten polymer particles, such that the ratio of “the rate of water spray” to “the discharge rate” is ≥3.0; and wherein the belt residence time is ≤50 seconds.

This invention generally relates to systems and methods for the formation and/or control of fluidic species, and articles produced by such systems and methods. In some cases, the invention involves unique fluid channels, systems, controls, and/or restrictions, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention allows fluidic streams (which can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e., droplets) to be formed and/or combined, at a variety of scales, including microfluidic scales. In one set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be produced from a channel, where a cross-sectional dimension of the fluidic stream is smaller than that of the channel, for example, through the use of structural elements, other fluids, and/or applied external fields, etc. In some cases, a Taylor cone may be produced. In another set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be manipulated in some fashion, for example, to create tubes (which may be hollow or solid), droplets, nested tubes or droplets, arrays of tubes or droplets, meshes of tubes, etc. In some cases, droplets produced using certain embodiments of the invention may be charged or substantially charged, which may allow their further manipulation, for instance, using applied external fields. Non-limiting examples of such manipulations include producing charged droplets, coalescing droplets (especially at the microscale), synchronizing droplet formation, aligning molecules within the droplet, etc. In some cases, the droplets and/or the fluidic streams may include colloids, cells, therapeutic agents, and the like.

A fine fiber production method and a fine fiber production apparatus are provided. The fine fiber production method includes: discharging a flowable polymer compound from a discharge port provided at an extruder; forming fibers having a fiber diameter of from 50 nm to 15 μm by spraying, in a direction intersecting with a discharge direction of the flowable polymer compound, a pressurized gas from an air nozzle to the discharged flowable polymer compound, the air nozzle including a temperature control member and a spindle-shaped nozzle or a De Laval nozzle; and collecting the fibers using a collection member provided downstream in a gas spraying direction.

Thermoplastic compositions include: (a) from about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); and (b) from about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %. Methods for making a molded article, include: (a) combining from about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % PMMA and from about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt % to form a blend; (b) melt processing and pelletizing the blend; and (c) injection molding the article from the melt processed and pelletized blend.

Thermoplastic compositions include: (a) from about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); and (b) from about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %. Methods for making a molded article, include: (a) combining from about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % PMMA and from about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt % to form a blend; (b) melt processing and pelletizing the blend; and (c) injection molding the article from the melt processed and pelletized blend.