Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus using electrostatic atomization to form liquid vesicles

US7914714B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
13References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 2004
Grant dateMar 29, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 27, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/2989
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The methods of the invention employ electrostatic atomization to form a compound droplet of at least two miscible fluids. The compound droplet comprises a core of a first fluid and a layer of a second fluid completely surrounding the core. The first fluid contains the agent to be encapsulated and the second fluid contains an encapsulating agent. The first and second liquids are miscible. The encapsulated droplets can contain a variety of materials including, but not limited to, polynucleotides such as DNA and RNA, proteins, bioactive agents or drugs, food, pesticides, herbicides, fragrances, antifoulants, dyes, oils, inks, cosmetics, catalysts, detergents, curing agents, flavors, fuels, metals, paints, photographic agents, biocides, pigments, plasticizers, propellants and the like and components thereof. The droplets can be encapsulated by a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, lipid bilayers and polymer shells. An additional complete or partial layer of a third fluid can be formed on the outside of the second fluid layer. The third fluid can contain a targeting or steric stabilizing agent.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.