Certain embodiments are directed to finite step emulsification device and/or methods that combine finite step emulsification with gradients of confinement for the formation of a 2D monolayer array of droplets with low size dispersion.

The present invention relates to a process of producing a nano Omega-3 microemulsion system includes: (i) preparing a dispersal phase by heating Omega-3; (ii) preparing a carrier by heating a liquid PEG (polyethylene glycol); (iii) adding the carrier to the dispersal phase; (iv) emulsifying as follows: when the temperature arrives at 60° C., adding ACRYSOL K-140 to the mixture of the carrier and dispersal phase in step (iii), continuing to stir at a speed of 500 to 700 rpm, at a temperature of 60 to 80° C., in vacuum, for 3 to 5 hours, controlling the quality of resulting product by dissolving into water and measuring the transparency, the reaction is quenched, the temperature is decreased slowly until it is in the range of 40 to 60° C.; emulsifying for the entire mixture for 30 minutes; (v) filtrating the product by injecting through nanofilter system before filling-packaging.

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.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device and method for providing emulsion droplets. The device comprising: a microfluidic section comprising one or more microfluidic units; and a well section comprising one or more groups of wells comprising one group of wells for each microfluidic unit; the well section and the microfluidic section forming a fixedly connected unit such that each group of wells forms a fixedly connected unit with a respective corresponding microfluidic unit, each microfluidic unit comprising a fluid conduit network comprising: a plurality of supply conduits comprising a secondary supply conduit and a primary supply conduit comprising a capillary structure having a volume of at least 2 μL; a transfer conduit; and a first fluid junction providing fluid communication between the primary supply conduit, the secondary supply conduit, and the transfer conduit; each group of wells comprising a plurality of wells comprising a collection well and one or more supply wells comprising a primary supply well, the collection well being in fluid communication with the transfer conduit of the corresponding microfluidic unit, the primary supply well being in fluid communication with the primary supply conduit and the secondary supply conduit of the corresponding microfluidic unit.

A microdroplet/bubble-generating device comprising a slit and a row of a plurality of microflow paths is constructed, in such a manner that either a continuous phase or dispersion phase is supplied to the slit, and so that the end of the slit, the other supply port for the continuous phase or dispersion phase and the liquid recovery port are connected. The plurality of microflow paths each have a narrow part where the cross-sectional area of the flow channel is locally narrowed adjacent to or near the connection point between the slit and the microflow path. The continuous phase and dispersion phase that have met at the connection points flow into the narrow parts, and the dispersion phase is sheared at the narrow parts with the continuous phase flow as the driving force, forming droplets or gas bubbles of the dispersion phase. The product is recovered from the liquid recovery port.

The invention comprises a novel modular, generalizable meso-micro-nano-fluidic platform apparatus, design and methodology which in exemplary embodiments may be applied in conjunction with a novel external triggering and automation/feedback loop control mechanism deployed via computer to explore the phase space of single or double emulsification for applications including the encapsulation of hydrophilic active pharmacological ingredients (APIs). End use applications include the mass production of particulate encapsulation of hydrophobic or hydrophilic APIs with automatic or user-supervised feedback methodology to control and discover mass production or per-drug customized settings of interest for the manufacture of novel or extant therapeutics. This invention allows for a process to produce monodispersed particles of varying sizes and may be used to rapidly screen for optimal size for maximal bioavailability of API particles either on lab bench for in vitro dissolution or in vivo studies, and patient-specific handhelds for maximal drug inhalation.

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.

An apparatus for preparing a water/diesel oil micro-emulsion comprises a diesel oil feeding unit (2), an emulsifying composition feeding unit (3), a water feeding unit (4), a mixing tank (5) in fluid communication with the diesel oil feeding unit (2), with the emulsifying composition feeding unit (3) and with the water feeding unit (4). A mixing device (22) is operatively connected to the mixing tank (5). The mixing device (22) comprises a duct (39) extending along a main direction (X-X) and presenting an inlet opening (40) and an outlet nozzle (41). A cone shaped septum (60) is placed in the duct (39), coaxial with respect to the main direction (X-X) and tapering towards the outlet nozzle (41). The cone shaped septum (60) is provided with a plurality of holes (65) made through its conical wall (63). A plurality of lamellae (76, 80) are arranged in at least a portion of the duct (39) placed downstream of the cone shaped septum (60). The plurality of lamellae (76, 80) divides said portion in a plurality of small chambers (77, 82) and are provided with through holes (78, 81). The holes (78, 81) and the small chambers (77, 82) delimit a labyrinth passageway for the liquid flowing through the duct (39) towards the outlet nozzle (41). The water/diesel oil micro-emulsion is obtained by recirculating a batch contained in the mixing tank (5) and comprising the diesel oil, the emulsifying composition and the water through a recirculation conduit and through the mixing device (22).

The present invention relates to a process of producing a nano-Tan IIA microemulsion system comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a dispersed phase by dissolving Tan IIA in ethanol solvent in a ratio of mass of Tan IIA:volume of ethanol solvent of 8:10; (ii) preparing a carrier by heating liquid PEG (polyethylene glycol) to 60-80° C.; (iii) adding the carrier to the dispersed phase in a mass ratio of 40:60 with further heating of the dispersed phase to 40-60° C.; (iv) elmusifying by heating until the temperature reaches 100° C., adding ACRYSOL K-140 to the mixture of the carrier and dispersed phase obtained in step (iii) in a mass ratio of 40:60 with further stirring at 500-700 rpm at about 100° C. under vacuum; and (v) filtering the product by injection through a nanofilter system before filling-packing.

A method for producing a mixture of oil and fluid food product includes placing a funnel into a pressure tank such that a stem of the funnel extends at least halfway down into the pressure tank. The pressure tank is flushed with nitrogen. Oil flows into the pressure tank through the funnel. A flow of nitrogen into the pressure tank is maintained through a side inlet of the pressure tank. Oil is dispensed from a pressure tank into the transfer line flowing a flow of fluid food product from a batch tank. The dispensed oil is dispersed into the flow of fluid food product in a inline shear mixer creating oil-in-fluid food product droplets. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets flow to the batch tank with the flow of fluid food product. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets are distributed in a volume of fluid food product in the batch tank.