# US 10,479,963 B2 · Microcapsules containing microorganisms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,963 B2 - Document ID: US10479963B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/377,101 - Filed: 2010-06-07 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-09 - Assignees: Devan Chemicals NV - Applicants: Patrice Vandendaele; Robin Temmerman - Inventors: Patrice Vandendaele; Robin Temmerman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479963B2 ## CPC - C11D 17/0039: {Coated compositions or coated components in the compositions, (micro)capsules} - A01N 25/28: Microcapsules {or nanocapsules} - C11D 3/381: {Microorganisms} - Y02A 50/30: Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Microcapsules for delivery of a liquid onto a surface such as a hard surface or a textile, such as mattress ticking, are disclosed. The microcapsules have a shell with an outer face and an inner face, the inner face encapsulating the liquid, and the liquid contains a microorganism such as a beneficial microorganism in a dormant state. The outer face of the microcapsules may comprise reactive functional groups whereby the outer face is chemically bondable, for instance covalently bondable to said surface. The microcapsules provide a beneficial microflora on said surface by rupture of the capsules deposited onto said surface to release the microorganism onto said surface. This may reduce or obviate the need for chemical antimicrobial agents to clean said surface. For surfaces which are fabrics or textiles, rupture and release may occur during use of the fabric or textile. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composition comprising a microorganism within unruptured microcapsules, the composition comprising: friable microcapsules having a diameter from 1 to 300 μm in a concentration of from 0.1% to 50% by weight of the composition dispersed within an aqueous treatment solution, the microcapsules being present in the composition in an amount for the microcapsules to be applied at a level of 0.1 to 20 gram/m2 when applied to a textile surface, the microcapsules adapted for delivery of a liquid onto the textile by rupture during conventional use of said textile, the microcapsules comprising a shell encapsulating the liquid to form a liquid core, the liquid containing a microorganism that consumes organic matter deposited on the textile surface; wherein said microorganism is in a vegetative state, and is brought back into a reproductive state by contact with oxygen and moisture upon the rupture of the microcapsule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein outer faces of the microcapsules comprise reactive functional groups whereby the outer faces are chemically bondable to said textile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2 wherein the reactive functional group comprises a reactive moiety adapted to provide covalent bonding to said textile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of sporous bacteria, sporous fungi, non-sporous bacteria, non-sporous fungi, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The composition of claim 4 wherein the microorganism is a sporous bacterium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The composition of claim 5 wherein the liquid is a non-aqueous liquid comprising less than 0.1% by weight water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The composition of claim 6 wherein the non-aqueous liquid is a water-immiscible liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 wherein the water-immiscible liquid is selected from the group consisting of organic oils, silicone oils, fluorocarbons and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a polymer layer, the polymer selected from the group consisting of gelatines, polyurethanes, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polysaccharides, silicone resins, epoxy resins, chitosan and aminoplast resins. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9 wherein the polymer is a melamine formaldehyde resin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a polymeric material surrounding the liquid core which is impervious to the materials in the liquid core. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the proportion by weight of shell relative to the liquid core in said microcapsules is from 1:500 to 1:5,000. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the microcapsules are adapted for delivery of said liquid onto said textile surface by rupture resulting from movement of a body on the textile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, whereby the microorganism reduces a concentration of allergens on the textile surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the textile comprises a ticking material of a mattress. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is selected from the genus Bacillus.