Patent ID: 7976759

Claim:
A method of forming nanoparticles, comprising (a) applying a substantially liquid composition to a mold, wherein the mold comprises a polymer and defines a plurality of cavities each having a broadest cross-sectional dimension of less than about 100 micrometers; (b) passing the mold through a nip point such that the substantially liquid composition enters the cavities of the mold, wherein passing the mold through the nip point comprises nipping the substantially liquid composition between a cover sheet and the mold; (c) removing the cover sheet from the mold such that the substantially liquid composition not in the cavities of the mold remains adhered to the cover sheet, the land area of the mold between the cavities is substantially free from the substantially liquid composition, and the cavities of the mold remain filled with the substantially liquid composition; and (d) hardening the substantially liquid composition in the cavities of the mold to form a particle within each cavity, wherein the particle has a size and shape that substantially mimics the size and shape of the cavity of the mold.