Background
Gut microbiota in humans and animals play an important role in health, aiding in digestion, regulation of the immune system and protection against pathogens. Changes or imbalances in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) have been linked to a variety of local and systemic diseases, and there is growing evidence that restoring the balance of the microbiota by delivery of probiotic microorganisms can improve health. However, orally delivered probiotic microorganisms must survive transit through lethal highly acid conditions of the stomach and bile salts in the small intestine. Current methods to protect probiotic microorganisms are still not effective enough.
Results
We have developed a cell encapsulation technology based on the natural polymer, cellulose sulphate (CS), that protects members of the microbiota from stomach acid and bile. Here we show that six commonly used probiotic strains (5 bacteria and 1 yeast) can be encapsulated within CS microspheres. These encapsulated strains survive low pH in vitro for at least 4 h without appreciable loss in viability as compared to their respective non-encapsulated counterparts. They also survive subsequent exposure to bile. The CS microspheres can be digested by cellulase at concentrations found in the human intestine, indicating one mechanism of release. Studies in mice that were fed CS encapsulated autofluorescing, commensal E. coli demonstrated release and colonization of the intestinal tract.
Conclusion
Taken together, the data suggests that CS microencapsulation can protect bacteria and yeasts from viability losses due to stomach acid, allowing the use of lower oral doses of probiotics and microbiota, whilst ensuring good intestinal delivery and release.
Here, we successfully present a novel, cost, and time-saving method to generate sEV from encapsulated MSCs. Future applications include using encapsulated cells as a retrievable delivery device that can interact with the host niche by releasing active agents in vivo, including sEV, growth factors, hormones, and small molecules, while avoiding cell clearance, and the negative side-effect of releasing undesired components including apoptotic bodies. Finally, particles produced following the encapsulation protocol display beneficial features for their use as drug-loaded delivery vehicles.
Background: Gut microbiota in humans and animals play an important role in health, aiding in digestion, regulation of the immune system and protection against pathogens. Changes or imbalances in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) have been linked to a variety of local and systemic diseases, and there is growing evidence that restoring the balance of the microbiota by delivery of probiotic micro-organisms can improve health. However, orally delivered probiotic micro-organisms must survive transit through lethal highly acid conditions of the stomach and bile salts in the small intestine. Current methods to protect probiotic micro-organisms are still not effective enough.Results : We have developed a cell encapsulation technology based on the natural polymer, cellulose sulphate (CS) that protects members of the microbiota from stomach acid and bile. Here we show that six commonly used probiotic strains (5 bacteria and 1 yeast) can be encapsulated within CS microspheres. These encapsulated strains survive low pH in vitro for up to 4 hours without appreciable loss in viability as compared to their respective non-encapsulated counterparts. They also survive subsequent exposure to bile. The CS microspheres can be digested by levels of cellulase found in the human intestine, indicating one mechanism of release. Studies in mice that were fed CS encapsulated autofluorescing, commensal E. coli demonstrated release and colonization of the intestinal tract.Conclusion: Taken together, the data suggests that CS microencapsulation can protect bacteria and yeast from viability losses due to stomach acid, allowing the use of lower oral doses of probiotics and microbiota, whilst ensuring good intestinal delivery and release.
Gut microbiota in humans and animals play an important role in health, aiding in digestion, regulation of the immune system and protection against pathogens. Changes or imbalances in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) have been linked to a variety of local and systemic diseases, and there is growing evidence that restoring the balance of the microbiota can restore health. This can be achieved by oral delivery of members of the microbiome (including probiotics) or by fecal microbiome transplantation. In order to provide their health promoting effects, microbiota must survive (i) transport and storage (i.e. shelf life) and (ii) transit through the highly acid conditions in the stomach and bile salts in the small intestine. We have developed a cell encapsulation technology based on the natural polymer, cellulose sulphate (CS) that protects members of the microbiota from stomach acid and bile.
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