The present invention provides polymersomes comprising amphiphilic block-copolymers and their use to quantify ammonia in samples (e.g., body fluid samples). More particularly, it provides a polymersome comprising (a) a membrane, which comprises a block copolymer of poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), wherein the PS/PEO molecular weight ratio is higher than 1.0 and lower than 4.0; and (b) a core which encloses an acid and at least one pH-sensitive dye. Compositions, strips and kits comprising the polymersomes are also provided along with methods of quantifying ammonia in a sample using the polymersomes, compositions and kit.

The invention relates to a method for making a core-composite shell microcapsule slurry for the delivery of hydrophobic active ingredients such as fragrance components of perfume oils. The method includes forming an outer shell by coacervation surrounding an internal phase which contains the hydrophobic active ingredient; and forming an inner shell by interfacial polymerization at the interface between the internal phase and the outer shell. The internal phase contains the hydrophobic active ingredient. The microcapsules are typically incorporated in a consumer product wherein the composite shell prevents the hydrophobic active ingredient from release until desired, generally during use of the consumer product.

The invention relates to a method for making a core-composite shell microcapsule slurry for the delivery of hydrophobic active ingredients such as fragrance components of perfume oils. The method includes forming an outer shell by coacervation surrounding an internal phase which contains the hydrophobic active ingredient; and forming an inner shell by interfacial polymerization at the interface between the internal phase and the outer shell. The internal phase contains the hydrophobic active ingredient. The microcapsules are typically incorporated in a consumer product wherein the composite shell prevents the hydrophobic active ingredient from release until desired, generally during use of the consumer product.

This invention relates to, in some aspects, a method of preparing a gel-based composition or a thermo-responsive sol-gel composition, including the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of a first aqueous solution comprising a first poloxamer and/or a first poloxamine with a solvent solution comprising a water miscible solvent and a hydrophobic therapeutic agent, wherein the water miscible solvent has a boiling point of less than 105° C. at atmospheric pressure and wherein the first aqueous solution and/or the solvent solution further comprise a surfactant; (b) substantially removing the water miscible solvent and water from the mixture in (a) to produce a micelle composition; and (c) contacting the micelle composition with a second aqueous solution comprising a second poloxamer and/or a second poloxamine to thereby prepare the thermo-responsive sol-gel composition. In other aspects, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a micelle composition, a thermo-responsive sol-gel composition or a gel-based composition for therapeutic use, and to methods of using the compositions.

Provided is a filling liquid (161) for filling a balloon (170) for a method for occluding a tubular organ, including a microcapsule (162) in which a balloon-dissolving substance that dissolves the balloon (170) is encapsulated, wherein the microcapsule is destroyable by an ultrasonic beam; and a liquid that is harmless in the tubular organ and does not dissolve the balloon. Further provided is a method for terminating a tubular organ occlusion including a step of applying an ultrasonic beam to a balloon (170) that is filled with the filling liquid (161) and occludes a tubular organ, thereby breaking the balloon (170) as a result.

Provided is a filling liquid (161) for filling a balloon (170) for a method for occluding a tubular organ, including a microcapsule (162) in which a balloon-dissolving substance that dissolves the balloon (170) is encapsulated, wherein the microcapsule is destroyable by an ultrasonic beam; and a liquid that is harmless in the tubular organ and does not dissolve the balloon. Further provided is a method for terminating a tubular organ occlusion including a step of applying an ultrasonic beam to a balloon (170) that is filled with the filling liquid (161) and occludes a tubular organ, thereby breaking the balloon (170) as a result.

The present invention relates to a process for producing microparticles laden with at least one active, wherein the microparticles are formed from a thermoplastic organic, polymeric material and in the unladen state, in their interior, have at least one cavity connected via pores to the surface of the microparticles, wherein (a) a composition of unladen microparticles are impregnated with a liquid comprising the active, whereby laden microparticles are obtained, which contain in the interior cavity the liquid, and (b) subjecting the laden microparticles to thermal treatment by passing a stream of free flowing laden microparticles in a carrier gas through a heated zone at a temperature of at least 20 K, in particular at least 40 K, e.g. 20 to 250 K especially 40 to 200 K above the softening temperature of the thermoplastic organic polymeric material, where the average residence time of the laden microparticles in the heated zone is not more than 60 s, in particular not more than 30 s, especially not more than 20 s or not more than 10 s, e.g. in the range of 0.1 to 60 s, in particular in the range of 0.1 to 30 s, more particularly in the range of 0.5 to 20 s and especially in the range of 1 to 10 s. The present invention further relates to compositions of microparticles filled with at least one active, in particular with at least volatile organic active, which is obtainable by a process of the invention, and to the use thereof, especially in a product selected from perfumes, washing and cleaning compositions, cosmetic compositions, personal care compositions, hygiene articles, foods, food supplements, fragrance dispensers and fragrances. The present invention further relates to products comprising an inventive composition of microparticles filled with at least one active, in particular with at least one volatile organic active, and to the use thereof, especially for controlled release of actives of low molecular weight and specifically for controlled release of aroma chemicals.

The present invention relates to a process for producing microparticles laden with at least one active, wherein the microparticles are formed from a thermoplastic organic, polymeric material and in the unladen state, in their interior, have at least one cavity connected via pores to the surface of the microparticles, wherein (a) a composition of unladen microparticles are impregnated with a liquid comprising the active, whereby laden microparticles are obtained, which contain in the interior cavity the liquid, and (b) subjecting the laden microparticles to thermal treatment by passing a stream of free flowing laden microparticles in a carrier gas through a heated zone at a temperature of at least 20 K, in particular at least 40 K, e.g. 20 to 250 K especially 40 to 200 K above the softening temperature of the thermoplastic organic polymeric material, where the average residence time of the laden microparticles in the heated zone is not more than 60 s, in particular not more than 30 s, especially not more than 20 s or not more than 10 s, e.g. in the range of 0.1 to 60 s, in particular in the range of 0.1 to 30 s, more particularly in the range of 0.5 to 20 s and especially in the range of 1 to 10 s. The present invention further relates to compositions of microparticles filled with at least one active, in particular with at least volatile organic active, which is obtainable by a process of the invention, and to the use thereof, especially in a product selected from perfumes, washing and cleaning compositions, cosmetic compositions, personal care compositions, hygiene articles, foods, food supplements, fragrance dispensers and fragrances. The present invention further relates to products comprising an inventive composition of microparticles filled with at least one active, in particular with at least one volatile organic active, and to the use thereof, especially for controlled release of actives of low molecular weight and specifically for controlled release of aroma chemicals.

The invention relates to a method of making hybrid organic-inorganic core-shell nano-particles, comprising the steps of a) providing colloidal organic particles comprising a synthetic polyampholyte as a template; b) adding at least one inorganic oxide precursor; and c) forming a shell layer from the precursor on the template to result in core-shell nano-particles. With this method it is possible to make colloidal organic template particles having an average particle size in the range of 10 to 300 nm; which size can be controlled by the comonomer composition of the polyampholyte, and/or by selecting dispersion conditions. The invention also relates to organic-inorganic or hollow-inorganic core-shell nano-particles obtained with this method, to compositions comprising such nano-particles, to different uses of said nano-particles and compositions, and to products comprising or made from said nano-particles and compositions, including anti-reflective coatings and composite materials.

[Problem] The present invention provides a capsule that is capable of suppressing volatilization of a highly volatile capsule content through the capsule shell and that is breakable.

[Solution] A breakable seamless capsule for a smoking equipment, comprising a content containing an oily ingredient and a capsule shell for encapsulating said content, wherein: the capsule shell contains a polysaccharide; the thickness of the capsule shell is 60 μm or more; the volatilization content (VC) of the content after leaving the content to stand under an environment at a temperature of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 40% for 4 hours is 3.0 wt % or more with respect to the total weight of the encapsulated content; and the crush strength per diameter of the capsule is 3-8 N/mm. In one embodiment, the crush strength per diameter of the capsule is 3.5-8 N/mm. In another embodiment, the capsule shell does not contain gelatin.