Device and method for producing a cross-linked substance, especially in the form of a microcapsule or layer

Abstract

A device for producing a crosslinked substance, e.g., of crosslinked microcapsules ( 1 ) of a crosslinkable capsule substance, in particular crosslinked alginates, is described, having a first dispensing device ( 2 ) for dispensing a jet of the crosslinkable capsule substance and a crosslinking device for applying a crosslinking agent to the capsule substance, whereby the crosslinking device has a second dispensing device ( 5 ) which directs a jet ( 9, 13 ) of the crosslinking agent at the jet or at a layer of the capsule substance.

1 . A device for producing a crosslinked substance from a crosslinkable capsule substance comprising: 
 a first dispensing device for dispensing a jet of the crosslinkable capsule substance, and    a crosslinking device for applying a crosslinking agent to the capsule substance, wherein the crosslinking device has at least one second dispensing device which directs a jet of the crosslinking agent into the jet or a layer of the capsule substance.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking device has at least one third dispensing device which directs a jet of a crosslinking agent, an active ingredient or an additive into the jet or a layer of the capsule substance.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the speed of the jet of the crosslinking agent is fast enough that the crosslinking agent penetrates into the uncrosslinked capsule substance.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the speed of the jet of the crosslinking agent is slow enough that the crosslinking agent remains with the capsule substance after penetrating into the uncrosslinked capsule substance.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein for shaping the jet, at least one of an encapsulation nozzle and a nozzle arrangement is provided for blowing a shape-imparting jet against the jet of capsule substance, whereby the shape-imparting jet surrounds the jet of the capsule substance.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the encapsulation nozzle and the nozzle arrangement is configured for forming a jet that is subdivided into microdroplets or a continuous jet.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the encapsulation nozzle and the nozzle arrangement is set up to form a continuous jet with a predetermined diameter or to form layers.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet of the crosslinking agent runs at an angle between 15° and 90° to the jet of the encapsulating substance.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second dispensing device is in the form of a ring that surrounds the jet of the capsule substance.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the jet ( 9 ,  13 ) of the crosslinking agent has a predetermined oncoming flow angle with respect to the jet of the capsule substance and otherwise runs radially toward the interior.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one second dispensing device has multiple outlet nozzles which are arranged so they are distributed over the circumference of the second dispensing device.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first dispensing device for the capsule substance, the second dispensing device for the crosslinking agent and the nozzle arrangement for the shape-imparting jet have mutually adjacent outlet openings.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the jet of the crosslinking agent runs essentially coaxially with the jet of the capsule substance.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the jet of the crosslinking agent surrounds the jet of the capsule substance.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the crosslinking device and the first dispensing device for the capsule substance is operated by compressed air.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second dispensing device is a dental particle jet device.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet of the capsule substance has a free length of between 5 cm and 80 cm from the outlet opening of the first dispensing device to the point of contact of the jet of the crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet of the capsule substance runs essentially vertically from top to bottom, with a collecting basin being arranged at the lower end.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the collecting basin contains a crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the collecting basin is the crosslinking device, wherein a substrate is provided to accommodate the capsule substance which is crosslinked in the collecting basin and the at least one second dispensing device is provided to direct a jet of the crosslinking agent, or an additional substance at the capsule substance on the substrate.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet of the capsule substance runs essentially vertically from above to below, with a substrate being arranged on the underneath side, the at least one second dispensing device of the crosslinking device being directed to the surface to this substrate.  
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule substance contains alginate.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking agent contains free or dissolved ions or salt crystals.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet ( 9 ) of the crosslinking agent contains particles of the crosslinking agent in liquid, suspended or solid form.  
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet ( 9 ) of the crosslinking agent contains crosslinking agent capsules which contain and sheath the crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the crosslinking agent capsules are lipid vesicles.  
     
     
         27 . A method of producing a crosslinked substance from a crosslinkable capsule substance, comprising the steps of: 
 generating a jet or a layer of the crosslinkable capsule substance, and    directing at least one jet of a crosslinking agent to the jet or layer of the crosslinkable capsule substance for crosslinking the capsule substance.    
     
     
         28 . A shaped body of a capsule substance, comprising an exterior surface that is crosslinked by a crosslinking agent at the surface to form a microcapsule or molded body, wherein an interior space of the microcapsule or molded body is crosslinked by the crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         29 . The shaped body according to  claim 28 , wherein the microcapsule interior space is provided to accommodate microcapsule contents, wherein at least one diffusion channel is formed between the microcapsule interior space and the outside of the microcapsule so that the microcapsule contents can be transported toward the outside through the diffusion channel.  
     
     
         30 . The shaped body according to  claim 28 , wherein the shaped body forms a microcapsule, a filament, a cylinder or a layer.  
     
     
         31 . The shaped body according to  claim 30 , wherein the shaped body is formed as a layer on a substrate ( 11 ).  
     
     
         32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . Method of using a device according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of producing a crosslinked capsule substance and the application of the crosslinked capsule substance in at least one of the fields of regenerative medicine, transplantation medicine, food technology, and administration of active ingredients (controlled drug release).  
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one second dispensing device has multiple outlet nozzles which are arranged so they are distributed over the circumference of the second dispensing device.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the capsule substance contain crosslinkable alginates.  
     
     
         36 . The shaped body according to  claim 28 , wherein the capsule substance contains alginate.  
     
     
         37 . Method of using a shaped body according to  claim 28 , comprising the steps of producing a crosslinked capsule substance and the application of the crosslinked capsule substance in at least one of the fields of regenerative medicine, transplantation medicine, food technology, and administration of active ingredients (controlled drug release).