Sodium alginate/low methoxyl pectin composite hydrogel beads prepared via gas-shearing technology for enhancing the colon-targeted delivery of probiotics and modulating gut microbiota.

Abstract

The probiotic encapsulation system has the potential to enhance the prebiotic effects of probiotics. However, challenges arise from the release behavior of this system in vivo and the large size of hydrogel beads. This study aims to address the issues related to the size of previous hydrogel beads and assess the colon-targeted delivery of probiotic polysaccharides composite hydrogel beads (PPHB). PPHB prepared by gas-shearing technique significantly reduced the average particle size and demonstrated a high protective capacity for probiotics (after simulating intestinal conditions for 4 h, the viability of encapsulated probiotics remained at 10⁷ CFU/g). The use of indocyanine green along with near-infrared-II in vivo imaging technology demonstrated the colon-targeted delivery of PPHB in vivo, which also extended the retention time of probiotics in the cecum and colon. Additionally, the colon-targeted delivery of PPHB was also demonstrated by dietary supplementation in vivo. PPHB significantly enhanced the diversity and richness of intestinal microflora species, increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids, raised the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, and significantly decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria. Alginate-based PPHB is more suitable for encapsulating functional ingredients for colon-targeted delivery and modulating gut microbiota.