Patent ID: 8562892

Claim:
A method for producing particles, comprising: providing a first patterned surface having a first surface relief pattern adapted to impart structure to a plurality of particles while they are under production; providing a second patterned surface having a second surface relief pattern adapted to impart structure to a plurality of particles while they are under production; depositing a particle material in contact with at least one of said first patterned surface and said second patterned surface; aligning said first surface relief pattern on said first patterned surface with respect to said second surface relief pattern on said second patterned surface; contacting at least a portion of said first patterned surface with at least a portion of said second patterned surface; solidifying at least a portion of said particle material to form a plurality of particles; and separating at least a portion of said plurality of particles from at least one of said first patterned surface and said second patterned surface, wherein at least a portion of a structure of each of said plurality of particles is imparted by a combination of said first surface relief pattern and said second surface relief pattern.