A Bioinspired Versatile Spore Coat Nanomaterial for Oral Probiotics Delivery

Abstract

A fundamental challenge in probiotic therapy is effective delivery and rapid colonization of probiotics; however, the physiological structure of probiotic spores provides an interesting idea to address this problem. Herein, the spore coat is innovatively prepared into a type of versatile spore coat nanomaterial (CN) which is subsequently anchored to the surface of probiotics to form CN-coated probiotics. The CN retains the characteristics of high resistance and natural affinity of spore coats, which serve as the "armor" for the enhancement of the probiotics delivery. Moreover, CN is beneficial for the explosive proliferation and competitive colonization of probiotics. Notably, it is found that not only CN used solely has good anti-inflammatory effect, but also it can significantly improve the functions of probiotics such as microbiome regulation, gut barrier integrity and tumor prevention. This work provides a simple and universal strategy that may guide the development of nanomaterial and material-based microecological agents.

Bioinspired oral delivery devices

“…3a). For example, bacterial spore coats with high resistance against acidic and enzyme-rich conditions can be anchored on probiotics 81 to allow them to pass through the harsh environment in the stomach and to supply nutrients for their growth and colonization in the intestine. Some gut probiotics require specific living conditions such as a strict anaerobic environment.…”

Intestinal Engineered Probiotics as Living Therapeutics: Chassis Selection, Colonization Enhancement, Gene Circuit Design, and Biocontainment

“…This approach markedly increases the tolerance of probiotics to acidic conditions and bile salts; however, it appears to sacrifice long-term colonization properties. Inspired by this, a similar coating has been used in colonization enhancement studies to improve physical encapsulation strategies . Researchers have often used layer-by-layer encapsulation technology for coating .…”

“…The coating protects the probiotics, enhances their colonization, allows for near-quantitative coating, and exhibits natural pharmaceutical activity, enabling the encapsulated probiotics to exhibit synergistic therapeutic effects in mice . Commonly used coating materials include dextran, polysaccharide chitosan, polysaccharide alginate, cellulose sulfate, and silk fibroin, etc., which have been reportedly applied to probiotics such as C. butyricum , L. rhamnosus , L. acidophilus , L. johnsonii , L. casei , B. coagulans , B. infantis , and EcN. ,− …”

“…Inspired by this, a similar coating has been used in colonization enhancement studies to improve physical encapsulation strategies. 170 Researchers have often used layer-by-layer encapsulation technology for coating. 171 The coating protects the probiotics, enhances their colonization, allows for nearquantitative coating, and exhibits natural pharmaceutical activity, enabling the encapsulated probiotics to exhibit synergistic therapeutic effects in mice.…”

Bacteria-Induced Colloidal Encapsulation for Probiotic Oral Delivery

“…Probiotics have been encapsulated in various materials mainly through physical blending with natural polymers via spray drying or extrusion technologies − and passive loading into hydrogels ,− or nanocoatings. − Such encapsulations allow certain improvements in the oral bioavailability of probiotics, yet there are still barriers that need to be urgently addressed . First, the porous structure of hydrogels and the nanoscale thickness of the assembled nanocoatings cannot provide sufficient resistance against the diffusion of either hydrogen ions in low-pH gastric acid or bile salts in the intestine.…”