HomeIngredientBiopolymer-Based Minimal Formulations Boost Viability and Metabolic Functionality of Probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG through Gastrointestinal Passage

Biopolymer-Based Minimal Formulations Boost Viability and Metabolic Functionality of Probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG through Gastrointestinal Passage

December 26, 2021

Langmuir. 2018 Sep 18;34(37):11167-11175. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01915. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

ABSTRACT

The delivery of probiotic microorganisms as food additives via oral administration is a straightforward strategy to improve the intestinal microbiota. To protect probiotics from the harsh environments in the stomach and small intestine, it is necessary to formulate them in biocompatible carriers, which finally release them in the ileum and colon without losing their viability and functions. Despite major progresses in various polymer-based formulations, many of them are highly heterogeneous and too large in size and hence often “felt” by the tongue. In this study, we established a new formulation for probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and systematically correlated the physicochemical properties of formulations with the functions of probiotics after the delivery to different gastrointestinal compartments. By reducing the stirring speed by 1 order of magnitude during the emulsification of polyalginate in the presence of xanthan gum, we fabricated microparticles with a size well below the limit of human oral sensory systems. To improve the chemical stability, we deposited chitosan and polyalginate layers on particle surfaces and found that the deposition of a 20 nm-thick layer is already sufficient to perfectly sustain the viability of all LGG. Compared to free LGG, the colony-forming units of LGG in these formulations were by factors of 107 larger in stomach fluid and 104 larger in small intestine fluid. The metabolic functionality of LGG in polymer formulations was assessed by measuring the amount of lactate produced by LGG in a human gastrointestinal simulator, showing 5 orders of magnitude larger values compared to free LGG. The obtained results have demonstrated that the minimal formulation of LGG established here boosts not only the viability but also the metabolic functionality of probiotics throughout oral uptake, passage through the gastrointestinal tract, and delivery to the ileum and colon.

PMID:30130114 | DOI:10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01915

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About The Author

Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.