A method of producing thermoplastic particles may comprise: mixing a melt emulsion comprising (a) a continuous phase that comprises a carrier fluid having a polarity Hansen solubility parameter (dP) of about 7 MPa.sup.0.5 or less, (b) a dispersed phase that comprises a dispersing fluid having a dP of about 8 MPa.sup.0.5 or more, and (c) an inner phase that comprises a thermoplastic polyester at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polyester in the dispersed phase; and cooling the melt emulsion to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polyester.

Provided is an apparatus for producing solid polymeric microparticles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators for forming liquid droplets of a first liquid, and a nozzle for forming a jet of a second liquid, wherein the plurality of liquid droplet generators and the nozzle are arranged relative to each other such that, in use, liquid droplets from the plurality of liquid droplet generators pass through a gas into said jet of second liquid. Also provided is a process for producing solid microparticles, the process comprising: providing a first liquid comprising a solute and a solvent, the solute comprising a biocompatible polymer, the concentration of polymer in the first liquid being at least 10% w/v, ‘w’ being the weight of the polymer and ‘v’ being the volume of the solvent, providing a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate liquid droplets, providing a jet of a second liquid, causing the plurality of liquid droplet generators to form liquid droplets of the first liquid, passing the liquid droplets through a gas to contact the jet of the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid microparticles, the solubility of the solvent in the second liquid being at least 5 g of solvent per 100 ml of second liquid, the solvent being substantially miscible with the second liquid.

Provided is an apparatus for producing solid polymeric microparticles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators for forming liquid droplets of a first liquid, and a nozzle for forming a jet of a second liquid, wherein the plurality of liquid droplet generators and the nozzle are arranged relative to each other such that, in use, liquid droplets from the plurality of liquid droplet generators pass through a gas into said jet of second liquid. Also provided is a process for producing solid microparticles, the process comprising: providing a first liquid comprising a solute and a solvent, the solute comprising a biocompatible polymer, the concentration of polymer in the first liquid being at least 10% w/v, ‘w’ being the weight of the polymer and ‘v’ being the volume of the solvent, providing a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate liquid droplets, providing a jet of a second liquid, causing the plurality of liquid droplet generators to form liquid droplets of the first liquid, passing the liquid droplets through a gas to contact the jet of the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid microparticles, the solubility of the solvent in the second liquid being at least 5 g of solvent per 100 ml of second liquid, the solvent being substantially miscible with the second liquid.

A maturation device for uncured polymeric dosage forms includes an external drum with an upstream inlet for entrance of a fluid with uncured dosage forms, and a downstream outlet for discharging cured dosage forms. The maturation device further includes a first body inside the drum defining at least one maturation chamber extending in the body between an upstream chamber inlet, in fluid communication with the inlet for uncured dosage forms, and a chamber downstream outlet. A first separation element is also included having a solid region, and a passing-through region, able, in an open condition of the chamber downstream outlet, to open the chamber outlet. At least the internal body is rotatable around an own axis to determine the closing/opening condition of a chamber downstream outlet of the internal body.

A maturation device for uncured polymeric dosage forms includes an external drum with an upstream inlet for entrance of a fluid with uncured dosage forms, and a downstream outlet for discharging cured dosage forms. The maturation device further includes a first body inside the drum defining at least one maturation chamber extending in the body between an upstream chamber inlet, in fluid communication with the inlet for uncured dosage forms, and a chamber downstream outlet. A first separation element is also included having a solid region, and a passing-through region, able, in an open condition of the chamber downstream outlet, to open the chamber outlet. At least the internal body is rotatable around an own axis to determine the closing/opening condition of a chamber downstream outlet of the internal body.

Provided is a sample processing method that liquefies a medium solution by making a liquid that liquefies the medium solution act on a sample formed by gelating or solidifying the medium solution that is supported by a substrate while an observation subject is included therein, while maintaining a state in which the medium solution is supported by the substrate while the observation subject is included therein.

Provided is a sample processing method that liquefies a medium solution by making a liquid that liquefies the medium solution act on a sample formed by gelating or solidifying the medium solution that is supported by a substrate while an observation subject is included therein, while maintaining a state in which the medium solution is supported by the substrate while the observation subject is included therein.

Provided is an apparatus for producing solid polymeric microparticles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators for forming liquid droplets of a first liquid, and a nozzle for forming a jet of a second liquid, wherein the plurality of liquid droplet generators and the nozzle are arranged relative to each other such that, in use, liquid droplets from the plurality of liquid droplet generators pass through a gas into said jet of second liquid. Also provided is a process for producing solid microparticles, the process comprising: providing a first liquid comprising a solute and a solvent, the solute comprising a biocompatible polymer, the concentration of polymer in the first liquid being at least 10% w/v, ‘w’ being the weight of the polymer and ‘v’ being the volume of the solvent, providing a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate liquid droplets, providing a jet of a second liquid, causing the plurality of liquid droplet generators to form liquid droplets of the first liquid, passing the liquid droplets through a gas to contact the jet of the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid microparticles, the solubility of the solvent in the second liquid being at least 5 g of solvent per 100 ml of second liquid, the solvent being substantially miscible with the second liquid.

Provided is an apparatus for producing solid polymeric microparticles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators for forming liquid droplets of a first liquid, and a nozzle for forming a jet of a second liquid, wherein the plurality of liquid droplet generators and the nozzle are arranged relative to each other such that, in use, liquid droplets from the plurality of liquid droplet generators pass through a gas into said jet of second liquid. Also provided is a process for producing solid microparticles, the process comprising: providing a first liquid comprising a solute and a solvent, the solute comprising a biocompatible polymer, the concentration of polymer in the first liquid being at least 10% w/v, ‘w’ being the weight of the polymer and ‘v’ being the volume of the solvent, providing a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate liquid droplets, providing a jet of a second liquid, causing the plurality of liquid droplet generators to form liquid droplets of the first liquid, passing the liquid droplets through a gas to contact the jet of the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid microparticles, the solubility of the solvent in the second liquid being at least 5 g of solvent per 100 ml of second liquid, the solvent being substantially miscible with the second liquid.

A method of producing thermoplastic particles may comprise: mixing a melt emulsion comprising (a) a continuous phase that comprises a carrier fluid having a polarity Hansen solubility parameter (dP) of about 7 MPa.sup.0.5 or less, (b) a dispersed phase that comprises a dispersing fluid having a dP of about 8 MPa.sup.0.5 or more, and (c) an inner phase that comprises a thermoplastic polyester at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polyester in the dispersed phase; and cooling the melt emulsion to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polyester.