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.

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 resin composition including a macromolecule crosslinked with polyamide epichlorohydrin, wherein the macromolecule is a polypeptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polyphenol and/or a lipid. Further disclosed is a controlled release composition having a plurality of particles including: a core having at least one hydrophobic active ingredient and the resin composition; and a shell at least partially surrounding the core and effective to inhibit diffusion of the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient into an environment surrounding the controlled release composition. The controlled release composition is preferably a consumer product. A method for preparing the compositions is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a resin composition including a macromolecule crosslinked with polyamide epichlorohydrin, wherein the macromolecule is a polypeptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polyphenol and/or a lipid. Further disclosed is a controlled release composition having a plurality of particles including: a core having at least one hydrophobic active ingredient and the resin composition; and a shell at least partially surrounding the core and effective to inhibit diffusion of the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient into an environment surrounding the controlled release composition. The controlled release composition is preferably a consumer product. A method for preparing the compositions is also disclosed.

A flow focusing type one-step double emulsion droplet parallel generation device and method. The device comprises a fluid injection module, a liquid droplet generation module, a liquid droplet surface solidification module and a liquid droplet collection module, wherein the fluid injection module is used for conveying fluid of each phase to the liquid droplet generation module; and the liquid droplet generation module comprises a fluid distribution functional area, a liquid droplet preparation functional area and an auxiliary functional arca, wherein the liquid droplet distribution functional area is used for conveying the fluid of each phase into a channel of the fluid of each phase corresponding to the liquid droplet preparation functional area, and the fluid of each phase is gathered at the same point in a flow focusing structure and then is broken, and a fluid of an outer phase covers the fluid of the middle phase.

A flow focusing type one-step double emulsion droplet parallel generation device and method. The device comprises a fluid injection module, a liquid droplet generation module, a liquid droplet surface solidification module and a liquid droplet collection module, wherein the fluid injection module is used for conveying fluid of each phase to the liquid droplet generation module; and the liquid droplet generation module comprises a fluid distribution functional area, a liquid droplet preparation functional area and an auxiliary functional arca, wherein the liquid droplet distribution functional area is used for conveying the fluid of each phase into a channel of the fluid of each phase corresponding to the liquid droplet preparation functional area, and the fluid of each phase is gathered at the same point in a flow focusing structure and then is broken, and a fluid of an outer phase covers the fluid of the middle phase.

A pH-sensitive release system comprising a capsule capable of releasing an agent in both low pH environments and high pH environments. The capsule encapsulates an SrCrO.sub.4 agent and comprises at least two weak polyelectrolytes (e.g., PEI and PAA). The capsule responds to both low and high pH changes in the local environment by releasing the agent. The agent may include a corrosion inhibitor and may help prevent or ameliorate the effects of corrosion.

A pH-sensitive release system comprising a capsule capable of releasing an agent in both low pH environments and high pH environments. The capsule encapsulates an SrCrO.sub.4 agent and comprises at least two weak polyelectrolytes (e.g., PEI and PAA). The capsule responds to both low and high pH changes in the local environment by releasing the agent. The agent may include a corrosion inhibitor and may help prevent or ameliorate the effects of corrosion.

A method for producing microcapsules with core material and shell material includes following steps: a) providing an aqueous two-phase system comprising at least one salt, which is at least partially not dissolved in this two-phase system and a core material, which is one phase of the two-phase system, and b) adding two solutions i) and ii) in the presence of at least one polymer soluble in solution i) and/or ii), wherein solution i) contains at least one salt of a cation of the salt from step a) and solution ii) contains at least one salt of an anion of the salt from step a). Microcapsules can be obtained or obtainable by the above method, and the microcapsules can be used in products and compositions.

A method for producing microcapsules with core material and shell material includes following steps: a) providing an aqueous two-phase system comprising at least one salt, which is at least partially not dissolved in this two-phase system and a core material, which is one phase of the two-phase system, and b) adding two solutions i) and ii) in the presence of at least one polymer soluble in solution i) and/or ii), wherein solution i) contains at least one salt of a cation of the salt from step a) and solution ii) contains at least one salt of an anion of the salt from step a). Microcapsules can be obtained or obtainable by the above method, and the microcapsules can be used in products and compositions.