The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a microstructure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a viscous composition on a lower substrate; and (b) applying centrifugal force to the viscous composition to induce extension of the viscous composition, thereby manufacturing a microstructure. According to the present invention, (i) a microstructure having a micro-unit diameter and sufficient effective length and hardness is provided; (ii) any process that may destroy activation of a drug or cosmetic component, such as high-temperature treatment, organic solvent treatment, etc., is avoided; (iii) loss resulting from contact and separation is reduced; (iv) the limitation of aspect ratio of the manufactured microstructure is overcome; (v) the limitation of yield resulting from flatness is overcome; and (vi) microstructures of various shapes can be manufactured.

A functionalization is performed with a dissolved oligo- or polysaccharide derivative which contains at least one free functional group, especially an amino group, linked through a polar carbamate linkage and a spacer (X), according to the general formula I: ##STR00001##

A functionalization is performed with a dissolved oligo- or polysaccharide derivative which contains at least one free functional group, especially an amino group, linked through a polar carbamate linkage and a spacer (X), according to the general formula I: ##STR00001##

An effect paint for automobiles, comprising water, a dispersant (A), cellulose nanofibers (B), and an effect pigment (C).

An effect paint for automobiles, comprising water, a dispersant (A), cellulose nanofibers (B), and an effect pigment (C).

A non-aqueous silver precursor composition contains at least 1 weight % of one or more (a) polymers that are certain cellulosic polymers; (b) reducible silver ions; and (c) an organic solvent medium consisting of: (i) a hydroxylic organic solvent having an -hydrogen atom and a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100-500 C., and, optionally, (ii) a nitrile-containing aprotic solvent or a carbonate-containing aprotic solvent different from the (i) organic solvent, each having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100-500 C. The (b) reducible silver ions are present in an amount of 0.1-400 weight %, based on the total weight of the one or more (a) polymers. This composition can be used to form silver nanoparticles under silver ion reducing conditions and then applied to various substrates to provide silver nanoparticle patterns.

A non-aqueous silver precursor composition contains at least 1 weight % of one or more (a) polymers that are certain cellulosic polymers; (b) reducible silver ions; and (c) an organic solvent medium consisting of: (i) a hydroxylic organic solvent having an -hydrogen atom and a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100-500 C., and, optionally, (ii) a nitrile-containing aprotic solvent or a carbonate-containing aprotic solvent different from the (i) organic solvent, each having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100-500 C. The (b) reducible silver ions are present in an amount of 0.1-400 weight %, based on the total weight of the one or more (a) polymers. This composition can be used to form silver nanoparticles under silver ion reducing conditions and then applied to various substrates to provide silver nanoparticle patterns.

A system for delivering fertilizer to the roots of a plant includes coated fertilizer particles. The coating can include a cellulose derivative, optionally a fatty acid, and a component, such as an aptamer, which binds specifically to a material, such as serine, which is released by the roots of the plant when the plant is actively taking up nutrients from the soil. The permeability of the coating increases when the coated particles are exposed to the material released by the roots of the plant. Thus, nutrient release from the coated fertilizer particles is synchronized with uptake of the nutrients by the plant during active growth. Advantages of the system may include one or more of improved nitrogen use efficiency by the plant, improved crop productivity, and/or reduced leaching of fertilizer from the soil.

A non-aqueous silver precursor composition contains at least 1 weight % of one or more (a) polymers that are certain cellulosic polymers; (b) reducible silver ions; and(c) an organic solvent medium consisting of: (i) a hydroxylic organic solvent having an -hydrogen atom and a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100-500 C., and, optionally, (ii) a nitrile-containing aprotic solvent or a carbonate-containing aprotic solvent different from the (i) organic solvent, each having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100-500 C. The (b) reducible silver ions are present in an amount of 0.1-400 weight %, based on the total weight of the one or more (a) polymers. This composition can be used to form silver nanoparticles under silver ion reducing conditions and then applied to various substrates to provide silver nanoparticle patterns.

A particulate cellulose derivative is obtained in a process of grinding and drying a moist cellulose derivative which comprises the steps of A) providing a cellulose derivative having a moisture content of from 60 to 95 percent, based on the total weight of the moist cellulose derivative, B) grinding and partially drying the moist cellulose derivative in a gas-swept impact mill; C) contacting the ground and partially dried cellulose derivative with an additional amount of a drying gas outside the gas-swept impact mill; and D) subjecting the cellulose derivative to partial depolymerization after having contacted the cellulose derivative with a drying gas in step C). The obtained particulate cellulose derivative has a high untapped bulk density, a good flowability and a low color intensity.