Methods and devices for producing a population of liposomes are provided. Aspects of the methods include applying a centrifugal force to a suspension of liposomes in a manner sufficient to pass the liposomes through a porous membrane to produce a population of liposomes. Aspects of the invention further include devices, systems and kits useful for performing the methods.

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.

A method for nanoencapsulation of an amine adduct in a polymeric shell includes steps of emulsifying a first aqueous solution including the amine adduct into an organic solution including an organic solvent and a polymer to obtain a primary emulsion; emulsifying the primary emulsion into a second aqueous phase including a stabilizer to obtain a secondary emulsion; removing the organic solvent by evaporation to form solid nanocapsules; and separating the formed solid nanocapsules by centrifugation. The nanocapsules have an average size of between about 30 nm and about 597 nm.

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.

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.

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.

Provided are preparation of a PCM microcapsule in the form of a core-shell having an excellent heat absorption function by using a temperature-controllable phase change material (PCM) as a core material and a biodegradable polymer material as a shell material, and a cooling cosmetic composition for external skin capable of exhibiting a prevention effect of thermal aging using the same. The core-shell PCM microcapsule having an automatic temperature control function according to the present invention is prepared by dissolving a shell material and a single or mixed PCM in a solvent to produce an oil phase polymer solution, dissolving an aqueous polymer to produce an external continuous phase, emulsifying the oil phase polymer solution and the external continuous phase, and removing the external continuous phase and the solvent and carrying out drying.

[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.