Disclosed is a composition comprising at least one core-shell microcapsule in a suspending medium. The microcapsule comprises a core and a shell around said core. The shell comprises a hyperbranched polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of amylopectins, dextrins, hyperbranched starches, glycogen and phytoglycogen and mixtures thereof.

Disclosed is a composition including controlled release particles, wherein each of the controlled release particles includes: (a) a core including at least one hydrophobic active ingredient; and (b) a wall at least partially surrounding the core and including the reaction products of: (i) an organofunctional silane; (ii) an epoxy; (iii) an amine; (iv) an isocyanate; (v) an epoxide curing agent; wherein the controlled release particles are effective to retain the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient upon exposure to water and effective to release the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient in response to friction. A method for preparing the composition is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a composition including controlled release particles, wherein each of the controlled release particles includes: (a) a core including at least one hydrophobic active ingredient; and (b) a wall at least partially surrounding the core and including the reaction products of: (i) an organofunctional silane; (ii) an epoxy; (iii) an amine; (iv) an isocyanate; (v) an epoxide curing agent; wherein the controlled release particles are effective to retain the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient upon exposure to water and effective to release the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient in response to friction. A method for preparing the composition is also disclosed.

A first aspect of the invention refers to a method for producing a hydrogel microsphere, the method comprising the steps of: a. generating by means of a capillary a droplet of controlled size of a first fluid in a gaseous phase, b. dispensing said droplet of a first fluid into a recipient comprising a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is immiscible with the second fluid and wherein the density of the second fluid is lower than the density of the first fluid, c. contacting the droplet of the first fluid with the second fluid, thereby producing a hydrogel microsphere, d. recovering the hydrogel microsphere from the second fluid for storage. A second aspect of the nvention is directed to a hydrogel microsphere obtainable by the method according to the first aspect of the invention. A further aspect of the invention refers to a system for producing a hydrogel microsphere according to any of the second and third aspect.

A first aspect of the invention refers to a method for producing a hydrogel microsphere, the method comprising the steps of: a. generating by means of a capillary a droplet of controlled size of a first fluid in a gaseous phase, b. dispensing said droplet of a first fluid into a recipient comprising a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is immiscible with the second fluid and wherein the density of the second fluid is lower than the density of the first fluid, c. contacting the droplet of the first fluid with the second fluid, thereby producing a hydrogel microsphere, d. recovering the hydrogel microsphere from the second fluid for storage. A second aspect of the nvention is directed to a hydrogel microsphere obtainable by the method according to the first aspect of the invention. A further aspect of the invention refers to a system for producing a hydrogel microsphere according to any of the second and third aspect.

Disclosed herein is a self-healing material comprising microcapsules comprising a monomeric or oligomeric healing agent, and a catalyst that is able to catalyse the polymerisation of the monomeric or oligomeric healing agent.

A method of preparing a fire extinguishing core-shell microcapsule by a one-pot oil-in-oil/ water emulsion technique. The method includes dissolving a fluid fluoroketone or hydrofluorocarbon fire extinguishing core material and a polymer shell material into a volatile solvent to form a composite mixture. The composite solution is emulsified into a polar phase and a non-polar phase by adjusting a concentration of a surfactant or via mechanical agitation to provide interfacial tension tuning. The volatile solvent is evaporated to precipitate a microcapsule having a fire extinguishing material core and a polymer shell. In a further aspect, the method includes incorporating the core-shell microcapsules in a polymer matrix.

Described are methods and devices for the generation of hydrogel particles with micrometer and submicrometer dimensions using oxygen-inhibited partial polymerization, and the particles generated therefrom. The described methods generate particles with dimensions independent of the starting polymerizable solution dimension, for example, a microdroplet. Further, microfluidic flow parameters (e.g. viscosity, flow rate) and photopolymerization process parameters (e.g. optical exposure intensity and duration) are controlled to generate particles with tunable crosslinking density-determined properties including elasticity, diffusivity, and biomolecular display for diverse applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering cell scaffolds, and single- and multiple- cell therapeutics. Similarly, gradients of crosslinking density-determined properties can be created within single particles through the selection of optical exposure intensity and duration. In addition to conventional spherical shapes, a suite of non-spherical shapes may be generated by manipulating the dimensions of the microfluidic channels and other related physical and process parameters.

Described are methods and devices for the generation of hydrogel particles with micrometer and submicrometer dimensions using oxygen-inhibited partial polymerization, and the particles generated therefrom. The described methods generate particles with dimensions independent of the starting polymerizable solution dimension, for example, a microdroplet. Further, microfluidic flow parameters (e.g. viscosity, flow rate) and photopolymerization process parameters (e.g. optical exposure intensity and duration) are controlled to generate particles with tunable crosslinking density-determined properties including elasticity, diffusivity, and biomolecular display for diverse applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering cell scaffolds, and single- and multiple- cell therapeutics. Similarly, gradients of crosslinking density-determined properties can be created within single particles through the selection of optical exposure intensity and duration. In addition to conventional spherical shapes, a suite of non-spherical shapes may be generated by manipulating the dimensions of the microfluidic channels and other related physical and process parameters.

An improved process of forming polyurea and chitosan microcapsules encapsulating a benefit agent is described. The process comprises forming a water phase comprising hydrolyzing chitosan in an acidic medium at a pH of 6.5 or less for an extended period and combining with a polyisocyanate. The reaction product of the hydrolyzed chitosan and polyisocyanate yields a microcapsule having improved release characteristics, with enhanced degradation characteristics in OECD test method 301B.