The microgel shows some very unusual properties that are not seen in existing polymers on the market.

• Water soluble cationic microgels which can be synthesized to an elected particle size and within a very narrow specification. Cationic particles are of particular interest to the cosmetic industry, for use in hair and skin products.

• The material is stable to temperature, electrolyte and pH, unlike most polymers and therefore makes it much easier to formulate with. There is every possibility that fewer, if any, other excipients will be necessary.

• It can be freeze dried and reconstituted with no adverse effects, thus giving it increased flexibility and the possibility of overcoming stability issues.

• Microgel solutions show a regular pattern of behaviour with temperature, concentration and shear, allowing ease of formulation and versatility. Microgels have a large viscosity span, which, in turn, enhances the probability for controlled release. The dosage form spectrum is therefore wide and potentially the microgel is suitable for oral liquids through to semi-solid topical applications, as well as for solid dosage forms, including buccal delivery, and I.V. drug formulations.

• Systems can be produced with a specific number of actives complexed per microgel. Thus, enabling ready production of controlled loaded dosage forms, which may lead to an increased efficacy and a decrease in side effects.

• Proteins appear to preferentially interact with sites in the interior of the microgel. If this is the case and the proteins are encapsulated within the microgel, then the proteins and the microgel may well go undetected in the blood stream until it reaches its destination. This leaves the door open to attach particular marker molecules on the outside of the microgel, which will target specific tissue sites in the body.

• The site of complex formation and nature of the interaction is dependent on the guest molecule and is easily defined. This enables the creation of microgel / guest molecule formulations having very specific properties. Charge, particle size, API loading and viscosity are all easily controlled. Will this facilitate APIs crossing the blood brain barrier?

• Insoluble APIs appear to dissolve within the hydrated microgel as a result of a preferential solvent environment. The evidence suggests that the microgel, mostly water, can solubilize insoluble APIs to a much greater extent than water alone.