Methods of making personal care compositions including microcapsules and methods of enhancing the efficacy of the microcapsules in said personal care compositions.

The present invention generally relates to the field of pharmaceutical sciences. More specifically, the present invention includes apparatus and devices for the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles, such as multivesicular liposomes, methods for preparing such formulations, and the use of specific formulations for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof. Formation and use of the pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles produced by using the apparatus and devices for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof is also contemplated.

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.

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 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.

A process for forming microspheres is disclosed. The process includes contacting a solvent with a modified cellulose to form a solution; contacting the modified cellulose solution with at least one bioactive agent to form a discontinuous phase liquid; contacting the discontinuous phase liquid with a continuous phase liquid to form an emulsion; and contacting the emulsion with a third phase liquid to extract the solvent from the emulsion, thereby forming a plurality of modified cellulose microspheres.

A process for forming microspheres is disclosed. The process includes contacting a solvent with a modified cellulose to form a solution; contacting the modified cellulose solution with at least one bioactive agent to form a discontinuous phase liquid; contacting the discontinuous phase liquid with a continuous phase liquid to form an emulsion; and contacting the emulsion with a third phase liquid to extract the solvent from the emulsion, thereby forming a plurality of modified cellulose microspheres.

Methods of making personal care compositions including microcapsules and methods of enhancing the efficacy of the microcapsules in said personal care compositions.

Multiple emulsions and techniques for the formation of multiple emulsions are generally described. A multiple emulsion, as used herein, describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. In some embodiments, the larger droplet or droplets may be suspended in a carrying fluid containing the larger droplets that, in turn, contain the smaller droplets. As described below, multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored in some embodiments to include a relatively thin layer of fluid separating two other fluids.