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.

Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; 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.

An industrially scalable microcapsule, fiber or film forming process and formulations suitable for use in conventional spray drying systems are provided. The one-step spray drying process utilizes formulations of a first ionic polymer, a second ionic polymer with an isoelectric point (pI.sub.2) or acid dissociation constant (pKa.sub.2) that is greater than the isoelectric point (pI.sub.1) or acid dissociation constant (pKa.sub.1) of the first ionic polymer and a volatile base or volatile acid. Volatilization of the volatile base or acid of the spray formulation changes the pH of the solution and changes the charge of the second ionic polymer initiating electrostatic interactions with the first ionic polymer through complex coacervation. Microcapsules formed by the complex coacervation process can stabilize bioactive components as well as control the release of the bioactive components for a variety of applications.

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.

The present invention generally relates to microfluidic droplets and, including forming gels within microfluidic droplets. In some aspects, a fluid containing agarose or other gel precursors is transported into a microfluidic droplet, and caused to harden within the droplet, e.g., to form a gel particle contained within the microfluidic droplet. Surprisingly, a discrete gel particle may be formed even if the fluid containing the agarose or other gel precursor, and the fluid contained within the microfluidic droplet, are substantially immiscible. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to techniques for making or using such gels within microfluidic droplets, kits containing such gels within microfluidic droplets, or the like.

The present technology generally relates to an encapsulation system for delivery of an active agent, the encapsulation system comprising a matrix of microcapsules, wherein a first portion of microcapsules in the matrix of microcapsules has an average diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 10 microns; a second portion of the microcapsules has an average diameter of from about 10 microns to about 100 microns; and a third portion of the microcapsules has an average diameter of from about 100 microns to about 500 microns; and wherein the active agent is encapsulated in the microcapsules.

A method of producing coated microcapsules comprises the steps of producing microcapsules by cold gelation having a denatured or hydrolysed protein matrix and an active agent contained within the matrix, and drying the microcapsules. A meltable coating composition comprising wax and oil and configured to have a melting point of about 70° C. to about 100° C. is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the meltable coating composition to melt the meltable coating composition, and the microcapsules are coated with the melted meltable coating composition

The subject matter of this invention relates to hydrogel compositions and, more particularly, to hydrogel compositions comprising block copolymers (BCPs) capable of self-assembly into nanoparticles for the delivery and controlled release of therapeutic cargos.

The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising a shell surrounding a core, wherein the core comprises one or more lyophilised microspheres. Also described herein is a method comprising providing one or more lyophilised microspheres; and coating the one or more lyophilised microspheres with a shell under conditions effective to encapsulate the one or more lyophilised microspheres. The present disclosure further relates to a system comprising one or more composition as described herein, and one or more lyophilised cake, wherein the one or more composition and the one or more lyophilised cake are combined under conditions effective to form a rehydration system. Also described herein is a method of controlling release of one or more encapsulated microspheres comprising providing a composition as described herein and mixing the composition with a rehydration solution under a first condition effective to control release of one or more lyophilised microspheres from the composition.

Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; 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.