The present invention relates to a composition, comprising at least one micelle in non-aqueous solution, wherein the micelle encapsules one or more nanoparticle(s) and wherein the micelle comprises a cross-linked hydrophilic shell.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such a composition and to methods for providing such a composition.

Provided are fluorescent nanoparticles and their conjugates and methods of using the same for in vivo and in vitro diagnostics and other applications. In some embodiments, provided are fluorescent nanoparticles with high solid-state absolute quantum yield. In some embodiments, provided are methods of manufacturing such nanoparticles. Nanoparticles may comprise monomers, such as styrene, and fluorophores, such as AlEgen™ Bright Green.

A polarizing film includes a hydrophobic polymer and a dichroic dye, wherein the hydrophobic polymer includes a polypropylene polymer including about 0.5 mol % or less of an ethylene content (mol %), and has a distribution of a molecular weight of about 1 to about 5.

The invention relates to microcapsules having a particle size distribution that has at least two maxima, wherein the main maximum of the particle size lies in the range of 5 to 100 μm and wherein the volume assumed by the microcapsules that have a particle size less than ¼ of the particle size of the main maximum is greater than approximately 20% of the total volume of the microcapsules.

The invention pertains to an encapsulation system; in particular a 3-phase system comprising an inner, second and outer phase wherein the second phase is gaseous, and wherein the 3-phase system has a lifetime of at least 3 min and the second phase has a diameter of less than 1 mm. An example of such a system is a stable, small antibubble. Also, the invention pertains to methods of making such 3-phase systems, and to use and methods of use thereof. In particular, 3-phase systems according to the invention are stabilized by surface active particles or molecules, such as for instance colloidal particles. The 3-phase systems of the invention can include a variety of other compounds, and can among others be used in pharmaceutical- or food-based applications. In particular, a 3-phase system according to the invention, such as for example an antibubble, may deliver pharmaceutical compounds.

A semiconductor nanoparticle includes a core and a shell covering a surface of the core. The shell has a larger bandgap energy than the core and is in heterojunction with the core. The semiconductor nanoparticle emits light when irradiated with light. The core is made of a semiconductor that contains M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and Z. M.sup.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, and Au. M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In and Tl. Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te. The shell is made of a semiconductor that consists essentially of a Group 13 element and a Group 16 element.

A material in the form of solid particles with a diameter varying from 10 μm to 1 cm is provided, composed of a continuous solid shell having at least one silicon oxide, said shell imprisoning an aqueous phase The aqueous phase includes at least one hydrophilic substance of interest S.sub.H and at least one droplet of a fatty phase predominantly having a crystallizable oil in the solid state at the storage temperature of said material The crystallizable oil has a melting point (T.sub.M) of less than 100° C. and including at least one lipophilic substance of interest S.sub.L.

A principle is established to show that nanoscale energy deposition in water by X-rays can be greatly enhanced via the geometry of nanostructures. The calculated results show that enhancement over background water can reach over 60 times for a single nanoshell made of gold. Other geometries and nanostructures are investigated, and it is found that a shell of gold nanoparticles can generate similar enhancement. The concepts of composition, matrix, and satellite effects are established and studied, all of which can further increase the enhancement of the effect of X-rays.

This present application relates to microcapsules or compositions containing microcapsules wherein the microcapsules comprise a polymerizable lactamic copolymer. More particularly, certain aspects are directed to the use of polymerizable lactamic copolymers in the formation of coatings on microencapsulated particles. These polymerizable lactamic copolymers can result in surface modified microencapsulated particles that may be anionic, non-ionic, or cationic.

An aqueous dispersion of particles comprising a resin having at least one repeating unit of formula I, II and/or III and which is obtainable by contacting in a liquid comprising water, a compound A comprising at least 2 functional groups selected from the group of functional groups —X—C(═O)—CHR1-C(═O)—R2, —X—C(═O)—C≡C—R2; or —X—C(═O)—CR1=CR2-NR11R12, the functional groups are linked by a linking group comprising a polyester, polyether, polyolefin, polydimethylsiloxane or polycarbonate chain with a compound B comprising at least two —NH.sub.2, —NH.sub.3.sup.+ or —N═C═O, wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R11 and R12 have the same meaning as that defined in the claims and w. The invention also includes a method of producing the aqueous dispersion.

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