Microparticles

A method of forming chitosan or alginate particles, comprising:

• accelerating a first stream comprising a solution of chitosan or alginate with a second stream that imposes frictional force on the first stream;
• applying a charging voltage to the first stream;
• vibrating the first stream, to form particles;
• separating the particles into sub-particles with a device in-line with a flow of the particles, wherein the device comprises a blade or a nanowire;
• and
• maintaining the sub-particles at a pressure of at least 0.1 mm Hg and of at most 760 mm Hg, while heating the sub-particles to a temperature within ±50° C. of the boiling point of water at the pressure;
• wherein the accelerating comprises contacting the first stream with the second stream, and the second stream comprises a hydrophobic liquid.

A method of forming gelatin particles, comprising:

• accelerating a first stream with a second stream,
• applying a charging voltage to the first stream;
• vibrating the first stream, to form particles;
• separating the particles into sub-particles with a device in-line with a flow of the particles, wherein the device comprises a blade or a nanowire, and wherein the accelerating comprises contacting the first stream with the second stream.