US 12,472,479 B2
Capsules with a hydrogel matrix
Giulia Biffi, Zürich (CH); Konstantina Papadea, Zürich (CH); Vittoria Picece, Zürich (CH); and Dmitriy Pivovarov, Zürich (CH)
Assigned to Microcaps AG, Schlieren (CH)
Appl. No. 18/278,036
Filed by Microcaps AG, Schlieren (CH)
PCT Filed Feb. 21, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/054243
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 21, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/179983, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 1, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 213/21 (CH), filed on Feb. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0123417 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B01J 13/04 (2006.01); B01J 13/20 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 13/04 (2013.01) [B01J 13/206 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for generating capsules with a hydrogel matrix, the method comprising the steps:
a. providing in a first chamber a dispersed aqueous phase, the dispersed aqueous phase comprising water and a hydrogel matrix-forming agent, wherein the hydrogel matrix-forming agent is configured to form a hydrogel matrix upon exposure to a gelation inducer;
b. providing in a second chamber a continuous oil phase, the continuous oil phase comprising oil and at least one first surfactant;
wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are fluidically connected by multiple channels; and wherein the method further comprises:
c. guiding the dispersed aqueous phase from the first chamber through the multiple channels into the second chamber to form an emulsion or a dispersion of the dispersed aqueous phase in the continuous oil phase; and
d. exposing the hydrogel matrix-forming agent to the gelation inducer to form capsules with a hydrogel matrix,
wherein the dispersed aqueous phase of step a. further comprises a masked gelation-inducer agent, wherein the masked gelation-inducer agent and the hydrogel matrix-forming agent are configured such that they do essentially not react with each other to form a hydrogel matrix and wherein step d. comprises liberation of the gelation inducer from the masked gelation-inducer agent.