A method for controlling the encapsulation efficiency and burst release of water soluble molecules from nanoparticle and microparticle formulations produced by the inverted Flash NanoPrecipitation (iFNP) process and subsequent processing steps is presented. The processing steps and materials used can be adjusted to tune the encapsulation efficiency and burst release of the encapsulated water-soluble material. The encapsulation efficiency of the soluble agent in the particles and the burst release of the soluble agent from the particles can be controlled by: (1) the copolymers used in the assembly or coating process, (2) the degree of crosslinking of the nanoparticle core, (3) the incorporation of small molecule or polymeric additives, and/or (4) the processing and release conditions employed.

A dispersion of capsules in critical or supercritical carbon dioxide is provided. The capsules include an aqueous solution encapsulated by covalent organic framework particles. Also provided is a method of making a dispersion of aqueous solution capsules. The method includes providing a medium of critical or supercritical carbon dioxide, introducing the aqueous solution into the critical or supercritical carbon dioxide medium, and introducing a covalent organic framework particle into the critical or supercritical carbon dioxide medium. Associated methods of using the disclosed dispersions in hydrocarbon-bearing formations are also provided.

The present invention discloses a thermosensitive nanocapsule and a preparing method thereof. The thermosensitive nanocapsule includes core materials and wall materials. The preparing method includes: first, making water phase and oil phase respectively, forming microemulsion by means of high speed shearing after mixing, and forming nanoemulsion via ultrasonic treatment or high pressure homogenization; then adding nitrogen to the emulsion and carrying out the reaction under a temperature of 40-80 C. for 3-4 hrs in the nitrogen atmosphere; finally obtaining the thermosensitive nanocapsule with an embedding rate of 90-94%, a particle size of less than 150 nm and a dimension polydispersity index of 0.09-0.17. In present invention, the monomer that forms the wall material of the nanocapsules is made from common biological materials, and has a good biocompatibility. The wall material has a temperature sensitivity, and can control the delayed release of core material by adjusting temperature.

Rupturable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a carboxylic acid, encapsulated within a phenolic resin-containing polymer wall that ruptures upon exposure to alkaline conditions over a period of time, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a mineral containing a metal that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the carboxylic acid and the mineral containing the metal chemically react with one another to form a reaction product that seals a rupture in the capsule and/or seals a feature of a surface upon which the capsules are disposed.

Disclosed are fragrance compositions containing a microcapsule, a fragrance, a hydrocolloid, and a solvent. Also disclosed is a method of preparing these fragrance compositions.

The invention provides a droplet encapsulate comprising: a drop of a hydrophobic medium; a peripheral layer of non-polymeric amphipathic molecules around the surface of the drop; and an aqueous droplet within the peripheral layer, the aqueous droplet comprising: (a) an aqueous medium and (b) an outer layer of non-polymeric amphipathic molecules around the surface of the aqueous medium. The invention also provides processes for preparing the droplet encapsulates. Various uses of the droplet encapsulates are also described, including their use as drug delivery vehicles, in synthetic biology, and in the study of membrane proteins.

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.

Microcapsules with a plurality of functionalities on the surface, an article of manufacture including microcapsules with a plurality of functionalities on the surface, and a method of forming a microcapsule with a plurality of functionalities on the surface which includes: providing one or more microcapsules; forming one or more wax particles, the wax particles including a wax core with the one or more microcapsules partially embedded in the wax core; functionalizing a first exposed surface of the one or more microcapsules; removing the functionalized one or more microcapsules from the wax core; and functionalizing a second exposed surface of the functionalized one or more microcapsules, the second exposed surface previously embedded in the wax core are disclosed.

Rupturable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a carboxylic acid, encapsulated within a phenolic resin-containing polymer wall that ruptures upon exposure to alkaline conditions over a period of time, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a mineral containing a metal that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the carboxylic acid and the mineral containing the metal chemically react with one another to form a reaction product that seals a rupture in the capsule and/or seals a feature of a surface upon which the capsules are disposed.

The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalizing two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reaction between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control. The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalized into the microcapsules.