Csir

Heidi Rolfes

Thilo Lothar Van Der Merwe

Dean Brady

Patricia-Ann Truter

Justin Jordaan

Francis Sean Moolman

Avashnee Chetty

Francis Dean Moolman

A process for producing enzymes structures includes providing an emulsion of droplets of a first liquid phase dispersed in a second liquid phase. The one liquid phase is a hydrophilic phase, while the other liquid phase is a hydrophobic phase which is immiscible with the hydrophilic phase. Enzyme molecules are located at or within interfacial boundaries of the droplets and the second liquid phase. The enzyme molecules of the respective droplets are cross-linked so that individual enzyme structures, which are stable and in which the enzymes are immobilized with a majority of active sites of the enzymes being orientated either internally or externally, are formed from individual droplets.

Stabilization of enzymes in an emulsion by cross-linking

The invention provides a method of encapsulating an active substance in an interpolymer complex, to make an encapsulated product in particulate form. The method comprises forming a mixture of a supercritical fluid, an interpolymer complex and an active substance and then causing or allowing the interpolymer complex to encapsulate the active substance. The encapsulated product is then separated from the supercritical fluid and, if necessary, the product is subjected to size reduction to ontain particles in which the active substance is encapsulated by the interpolymer complex.

Method of encapsulating an active substance

A method of making a solid interpolymer for use as a controlled release matrix for a controlled release product for oral administration, involves dissolving a first polymer in a solvent therefor, dissolving one or more second complementary polymers capable of complexing with the first polymer to form the interpolymer complex, in a solvent therefor, adding a complexation inhibitor, mixing together the solutions, adjusting the pH if necessary, and spraying the product into a vessel to remove at least partially the solvents and thereby to produce solid particles of the interpolymer complex. An active agent such as a drug is preferably embedded or encapsulated in the interpolymer complex before spray drying or may be incorporated by suitable means at a later stage.

Method of making controlled release particles of complexed polymers

Growing community of inventors

Pretoria, South Africa

Heidi Rolfes