The present invention relates to a plant (2) for producing a composition (9), in particular a cosmetic composition, comprising drops (8) of at least one first fluid dispersed in a second fluid substantially immiscible with the first fluid, each drop (8) comprising a core formed of the first fluid, and optionally a shell suitable for retaining the core, the plant (2) comprising: a device (16) for producing the composition (9), a storage module (10) comprising: at least one tank (36) for storing at least one first stock solution (A), and at least one tank (38) for storing at least one first solution of active agent(s), at least one tank (40) for storing at least one second stock solution (B), and a preparation module (12), connected to the storage module (10).

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 (4). 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 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 L; 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.

The application refers to process for production of a nano-microemulsion system of plant oil triglycerides, including: (i) preparing a dispersed phase plant oil triglyceride; (ii) preparing a carrier made from a mixture of propylene glycol monocaprylate and lecithin by a weight ratio of 5-6:1-1.5; (iii) adding the carrier to the dispersed phase by a weight ratio of 3-4:1-1.5, wherein the dispersed phase temperature is maintained between 60-100 C. while stirring under vacuum, followed by introduction of the whole mixture through the high-pressure microjet homogenizer; (iv) adding Tween 80 and Tween 60 to the solution mixture obtained in step (iii) by a weight ratio of 3-4:1-1.5:1-1.5, wherein the temperature of the dispersed phase is continuously maintained between 60-100 C. while stirring under vacuum; and (v) forming a nano-microemulsion system of plant oil triglycerides by cooling the mixture, followed by homogenization of the mixture by ultrasonication to achieve a droplet size of less than 100 nm, quality control of the resultant product by dissolution thereof in water and measurement of the transparency, in which if the required transparency is not met, continue to heat and measure the transparency until the required transparency is met, then stop the reaction, and emulsification of the mixture to obtain a nano-microemulsion system of plant oil triglycerides.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

An apparatus for preparing a water/diesel oil micro-emulsion comprises a mixing device operatively connected to a mixing tank. The mixing device comprises a cone shaped septum placed in a duct, coaxial with respect to a main direction and tapering towards an outlet nozzle. The cone shaped septum is provided with a plurality of holes made through its conical wall. A plurality of lamellae is arranged in at least a portion of the duct placed downstream of the cone shaped septum, divides the portion in a plurality of small chambers and is provided with through holes. The holes and the small chambers delimit a labyrinth passageway for the liquid flowing through the duct towards the outlet nozzle.

An anti-clogging microfluidic multichannel device comprising a first mixing chamber comprising a first and a second end, wherein the first end comprises at least one inlet connected in fluid communication with the first mixing chamber, and at least one first capillary element comprising a first and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one first capillary element is connected in fluid communication with the second end of the first mixing chamber, at least one septum located within the at least one first capillary element, which divides the cross section of the at least one first capillary element in a plurality of channels, wherein the at least one first capillary element comprises a reduction of section along its longitudinal axis between a section of the at least one first capillary element and the second end of the at least one first capillary element. It is also described a microfluidics system and a method of production of emulsions using said microfluidics system.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Microfluidics is becoming a more popular mainstream technology across many multidisciplinary fields for its clinical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications. As such, more convenient methods of droplet dispersion are desired such as a vacuum-driven system. Regardless of the simplicity of the setup, every operating parameter must be carefully selected and engineered to suit the needs of each experiment. The present invention reports a method for optimization of droplet formation rates for microfluidic flow-focusing devices with rectangular microchannels. More specifically, the method uses the effects of channel dimensions on droplet formation and dripping/jetting to co-flow transitions of two-phase, flow-focusing devices at different pressures for vacuum-driven systems to target a certain desired rate that maximizes intended output.

The present invention provides a micro two-phase droplet generating device that does not require separate through-holes corresponding to a plurality of two-phase dispersed parallel continuous flow channels. The micro two-phase droplet generating device of the present application comprises a row of a plurality of microflow channels, liquid transfer ports, and a slit, and is configured so as to form two-dispersion phase parallel continuous flows at first connection sites between the plurality of microflow channels, in which a first dispersion phase flows, and the slit, through which a second dispersion phase flows. A continuous phase is fed to second connection sites between the plurality of microflow channels, in which the two-dispersion phase parallel continuous flows flow, and another liquid transfer port, which is preferably a second slit, downstream of the slit, and the two-dispersion phase parallel continuous flows are sheared at the second connection sites, whereby two-phase droplets, and in particular, core-shell or Janus two-phase droplets, can be generated, and a product can be collected from a discharge port.