Gas-shearing fabrication of single-bacterium microgels: A breakthrough in precision probiotic delivery for IBD therapy

Research Background:

The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating immune functions, digestion, and overall health. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is linked to a range of diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and IBD. Probiotics, as a potential therapeutic approach, have gained significant attention. However, traditional probiotic delivery systems face challenges related to gastrointestinal survival and targeted delivery. The current encapsulation techniques often suffer from issues such as imprecise particle size control, poor stability, and low survival rates in the harsh gastrointestinal environment.

Innovative Findings:

This study introduces a novel approach using gas-shearing technology to precisely encapsulate individual probiotics into microgels, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods. By encapsulating individual bacteria with high precision, we significantly enhance the survival and targeted delivery of probiotics in the gastrointestinal system, ensuring that they remain active and reach the intended site of action.

Using EcN as a model probiotic strain, we demonstrate that the gas-shearing encapsulation method substantially improves therapeutic efficacy in treating IBD compared to unencapsulated strains. The encapsulated EcN showed a significantly enhanced therapeutic effect in an IBD mouse model, particularly in prolonging residence time, increasing bacterial load, and improving immune modulation.

Key Results:

1. Precision Single-Bacterium Encapsulation: Gas-shearing technology enables precise control over the encapsulation process, effectively addressing issues such as cell aggregation and uneven release, ensuring the stability and activity of probiotics.

2. Enhanced Probiotic Stress Resistance: The encapsulation method significantly improves the resistance of probiotics to gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric acid, bile salts, and antibiotics, ensuring a higher survival rate during gastrointestinal transit.

3. Improved Therapeutic Efficacy: In an IBD mouse model, encapsulated EcN exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to unencapsulated EcN, leading to improved symptoms such as reduced body weight loss, alleviated intestinal inflammation, and better preservation of gut barrier function.

Future Prospects:

This innovative single-bacterium microgel technology holds great potential not only for improving probiotic therapies but also for other gastrointestinal-related diseases. Future research will focus on optimizing the encapsulation materials and biodegradation properties to ensure long-term stability and biocompatibility for broader clinical applications.

This technology has the potential to revolutionize the delivery of probiotics and other microorganisms, with wide-ranging applications in the food, nutraceutical, and biomedical industries. It also provides a new platform for personalized medicine and precision drug delivery.

Significance of the Study:

1. Breakthrough in Precision Delivery Technology: This study presents a new platform for precisely controlling the delivery of probiotics, overcoming the technical challenges of traditional encapsulation methods, and enhancing their therapeutic potential.

2. New Solution for IBD Therapy: The gas-shearing microgel technology provides an effective and safe alternative for treating IBD and other chronic diseases, with significant value for clinical and industrial applications.

3. Potential for Industrial Translation: The technology offers a solid foundation for the development of probiotic and microbiome-based therapeutics, particularly in personalized medicine and nutrition, with considerable potential for industry translation.

Sources: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0955