Cellulosic capsules comprising an interior hydrophobic medium and use thereof such as for adsorbing cellulose-hydrolyzing enzymes, are provided.

A method for encapsulating active ingredients in liposomes having an active ingredient solution encapsulated with a bilayer composed of two monomolecular layers of amphiphilic compounds comprises: (a) providing the active ingredient solution; (b) providing an emulsion by emulsifying the active ingredient solution in a first liquid in the presence of the amphiphilic compound; (c) providing a liquid phase; (d) contacting the emulsion with the liquid phase to form a phase boundary; and (e) centrifuging the emulsion and the liquid phase that are in contact with one another via the phase boundary, wherein, on passage of the phase boundary, the amphiphilic compound enriched there is added onto the monomolecular inner layer to form a monomolecular outer layer, in order to create the bilayer.
The first liquid of the emulsion is chosen such that the solubility of the amphiphilic compound in the first liquid is not more than 1×10.sup.−4 mol/l.

Various examples of systems and methods for making microspheres, microparticles, and emulsions are provided. In one example, a system and method for forming microspheres comprises: pumping a dispersed phase liquid and a continuous phase liquid into a levitating magnetic impeller pump to subject the dispersed phase liquid and continuous phase liquid to a high shear environment within the impeller pump's pump chamber. In another example, a system and method for forming an emulsion comprises: pumping a dispersed phase liquid and an inner aqueous phase liquid into a levitating magnetic impeller pump to subject the dispersed phase and the inner aqueous phase to a high shear environment within the impeller pump's pump chamber.

Various examples of systems and methods for making microspheres, microparticles, and emulsions are provided. In one example, a system and method for forming microspheres comprises: pumping a dispersed phase liquid and a continuous phase liquid into a levitating magnetic impeller pump to subject the dispersed phase liquid and continuous phase liquid to a high shear environment within the impeller pump's pump chamber. In another example, a system and method for forming an emulsion comprises: pumping a dispersed phase liquid and an inner aqueous phase liquid into a levitating magnetic impeller pump to subject the dispersed phase and the inner aqueous phase to a high shear environment within the impeller pump's pump chamber.

Provided herein is a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid to form an emulsion of micro-droplets having an average droplet size and having a droplet size distribution around the average droplet size and below a maximum droplet size. The micro-droplets will lose their solvent to transform to micro-spheres exhibiting a particle size distribution around an average particle size and substantially below a maximum allowable particle size. The micro-spheres are subjected to a micro-filter having a relatively narrow pore size distribution around an average pore size, which average pore size is between the average particle size and the maximum particle size. A filtrate of the micro-filter comprises a majority of the micro-spheres that is substantially void of micro-spheres having a particle size exceeding the maximum allowable particle size.

Provided herein is a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid to form an emulsion of micro-droplets having an average droplet size and having a droplet size distribution around the average droplet size and below a maximum droplet size. The micro-droplets will lose their solvent to transform to micro-spheres exhibiting a particle size distribution around an average particle size and substantially below a maximum allowable particle size. The micro-spheres are subjected to a micro-filter having a relatively narrow pore size distribution around an average pore size, which average pore size is between the average particle size and the maximum particle size. A filtrate of the micro-filter comprises a majority of the micro-spheres that is substantially void of micro-spheres having a particle size exceeding the maximum allowable particle size.

A method of making an anti-microbial nano-particle containing an essential oil compound (EOC) can include the steps of: a) mixing a quantity of an amphiphilic polymer with a quantity of a solvent to produce a suspension b) heating the suspension to a processing temperature that is higher than a glass transition temperature of the amphiphilic polymer thereby formatting a plurality of polymeric micelles within the solvent, each micelle having a hydrophilic outer portion encasing a hydrophobic core and having a micelle diameter of less than about 80 nm; and c) adding a quantity of an essential oil (EOC) or components of such into the suspension so that a concentration of the essential oil compound is between about 0.2% and about 20% wt, whereby the EOC diffuses into and are encapsulated within the hydrophobic cores of each micelle.

A method of making an anti-microbial nano-particle containing an essential oil compound (EOC) can include the steps of: a) mixing a quantity of an amphiphilic polymer with a quantity of a solvent to produce a suspension b) heating the suspension to a processing temperature that is higher than a glass transition temperature of the amphiphilic polymer thereby formatting a plurality of polymeric micelles within the solvent, each micelle having a hydrophilic outer portion encasing a hydrophobic core and having a micelle diameter of less than about 80 nm; and c) adding a quantity of an essential oil (EOC) or components of such into the suspension so that a concentration of the essential oil compound is between about 0.2% and about 20% wt, whereby the EOC diffuses into and are encapsulated within the hydrophobic cores of each micelle.

Disclosed is a microcapsule containing: (i) a microcapsule core having an active material, and (ii) a microcapsule wall formed of a first polymer and second polymer. The first polymer is a sol-gel polymer. The second polymer is gum arabic, purity gum ultra, gelatin, chitosan, xanthan gum, plant gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl guar gum, or a combination thereof. The weight ratio between the first and second polymer is 1:10 to 10:1. Also disclosed are processes for preparing the microcapsule and uses of the microcapsules in consumer products.

Disclosed is a microcapsule containing: (i) a microcapsule core having an active material, and (ii) a microcapsule wall formed of a first polymer and second polymer. The first polymer is a sol-gel polymer. The second polymer is gum arabic, purity gum ultra, gelatin, chitosan, xanthan gum, plant gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl guar gum, or a combination thereof. The weight ratio between the first and second polymer is 1:10 to 10:1. Also disclosed are processes for preparing the microcapsule and uses of the microcapsules in consumer products.