An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.

Described herein is a composition comprising a particle comprising a biodegradable and hydrolysable polymer, wherein a medicament for the treatment of a disease of the urinary tract is dispersed in the polymer, wherein the particle has a dimension of from 1 μm to 30 μm. Also described herein is a composition for the treatment of a disease, the composition comprising a particle comprising a biodegradable and hydrolysable polymer, wherein a medicament is dispersed in the polymer, wherein the particle has a dimension of from 1 μm to 30 μm, wherein the composition is for use in a method for treating the disease and the method involves the intracellular delivery of the particle or the medicament from the particle. Also described herein is a composition comprising a particle comprising a biodegradable and hydrolysable polymer, wherein a medicament is dispersed in the polymer, wherein the particle has a dimension of from 1 μm to 30 μm, wherein the composition is for use in a method for treating bacteria and optionally the method involves the intracellular delivery of the particle or the medicament from the particle.

An example system includes a primary channel having a first end and a second end, at least two reagent reservoirs coupled to the first end, and a controller. Each reservoir contains a reagent in a fluid solution and is associated with an integrated pump to drive a reagent droplet from the corresponding reagent reservoir into the primary channel towards the second end. The controller is coupled to the integrated pumps and operates according to a sequence to actuate the integrated pumps, the sequence being indicative of reagents in the reagent reservoirs. The actuation of the pumps is to drive the reagent droplets from the reagent reservoirs into the primary channel in accordance with the sequence. The example system also includes a shell material reservoir with a shell material and an associated shell material pump to drive the shell material into the primary channel to encapsulate the reagent droplets.

The disclosure relates to a composition comprising amphiphilic Janus particles and a waterborne binder, wherein the particles are self-stratified, and methods of making and using the same. The disclosure also relates to the synthesis of amphiphilic Janus particles.

Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid dispersion of polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets of the dispersion; drying the droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Provided are hollow particles which are more excellent in heat resistance and dispersibility than ever before and which are lightweight. The hollow particles containing hollow resin particles having a surface covered with inorganic fine particles, wherein a volume average particle diameter of the hollow particles is from 0.1 μm to 9.0 μm, and a void ratio thereof is from 55% to 95%; wherein a repeating unit constituting the resin of the hollow resin particles contains a crosslinkable monomer unit, and a content of the crosslinkable monomer unit is from 25 to 100 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin; wherein a primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is from 10 nm to 120 nm; and wherein the inorganic fine particles are contained at from 5 to 180 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the hollow resin particles.

Provided are hollow particles which are more excellent in heat resistance and dispersibility than ever before and which are lightweight. The hollow particles containing hollow resin particles having a surface covered with inorganic fine particles, wherein a volume average particle diameter of the hollow particles is from 0.1 μm to 9.0 μm, and a void ratio thereof is from 55% to 95%; wherein a repeating unit constituting the resin of the hollow resin particles contains a crosslinkable monomer unit, and a content of the crosslinkable monomer unit is from 25 to 100 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin; wherein a primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is from 10 nm to 120 nm; and wherein the inorganic fine particles are contained at from 5 to 180 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the hollow resin particles.

A high amylose starch-based capsule, which includes an oily core and a breakable shell composition surrounding the oily core. The breakable shell composition is a gelled matrix derived from a gellable mixture including a partially-gelatinized high amylose starch, a hydrocolloid gelling agent, and optionally a filler. The high amylose starch based capsule is breakable under the application of a sufficient amount of force. The high amylose starch-based capsules have sufficient rigidity to maintain their integrity while incorporating into bulk matrices, such as chewing gums or compressed tablet.

Some variations provide a method of assembling a plurality of particles into particle assemblies, comprising: (a) obtaining a first fluid containing particles and a solvent for the particles; (b) obtaining a second fluid not fully miscible with the first fluid; (c) obtaining a third fluid that is a co-solvent for the first fluid and the second fluid; (d) combining the first fluid and the second fluid to generate an emulsion containing droplets of the first fluid in the second fluid; (e) adding the third fluid to the emulsion; and (f) dissolving out the solvent from the droplets into the third fluid, thereby forming particle assemblies. Some variations also provide an assembly of nanoparticles, wherein the assembly has a volume from 1 μm.sup.3 to 1 mm.sup.3, a packing fraction from 20% to 100%, and/or an average relative surface roughness less than 1%, wherein the assembly is not disposed on a substrate.

A composite includes a polymer; and a phase-change composition including an unencapsulated first phase-change material, and an encapsulated second phase-change material.