Patent ID: 7914714
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: B01J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for making an encapsulated droplet comprising an agent to be encapsulated, the method comprising the steps of: a. forming a compound droplet through electrostatic atomization of a first and a second liquid, the compound droplet comprising a droplet of the first liquid surrounded by a layer of the second liquid, wherein the first liquid is aqueous and comprises an agent to be encapsulated, the second liquid comprises a lipid encapsulating agent and an organic solvent, the organic solvent being selected so that the second liquid is miscible with the first liquid and at least one of the first or second liquid is electrically conductive; and b. forming an encapsulating shell from the encapsulating agent, thereby forming an encapsulated droplet comprising an agent to be encapsulated wherein the compound droplet is formed by flowing the first liquid through a first inner fluid flow channel having a first outlet and by flowing the second liquid through a second fluid flow channel having a second outlet, the first outlet being flush with or downstream of the second outlet, the first and second fluid flow channels being coaxial, applying electrical charge to the electrically conducting liquid and maintaining laminar flow of the first and second liquids at the first and second outlets.