Hybrid coating of alginate microbeads based on protein-biopolymer multilayers for encapsulation of probiotics.

A hybrid coating based on multilayers of proteins and biopolymers was developed to enhance the protection performance of alginate microbeads against acidic conditions for delivery of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG). Zeta potential measurements and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation confirmed layer-by-layer deposition of protein-polymer layers. The stability of protein-based coatings during simulated gastric fluid (SGF) treatment was monitored by microscopy. Protein-coated microbeads were partially dismantled, whereas polymer-coated microbeads were intact after a sequential treatment in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. This suggests that hybrid formulation offers an advantage over the coatings based on biopolymer multilayers in terms of better release of bacteria. Uncoated alginate microbeads completely dissolved and could not protect bacteria after SGF treatment whereas microbeads with hybrid coating showed increased physical stability and a modest decrease of culturability of 3.8 log units. Therefore, this work provides a concept for future protein-based hybrid coatings for bacterial delivery systems.

Chitosan-dextran sulfate hydrogels as a potential carrier for probiotics.

Physical and chemical (crosslinked with genipin) hydrogels based on chitosan and dextran sulfate were developed and characterized as novel bio-materials suitable for probiotic encapsulation. The swelling of the hydrogels was dependent on the composition and weakly influenced by the pH of the media. The morphology analysis supports the swelling data showing distinct changes in microstructure depending on the composition. The viability and culturability tests showed approx. 3.6 log CFU/mL decrease of cells (L. acidophilus as model) incorporated into chemical hydrogels when compared to the number of viable native cells. However, the live/dead viability assay evidenced that a considerable amount of viable cells were still entrapped in the hydrogel network and therefore the viability is most likely underestimated. Overall, the developed systems are robust and their structure, rheology and swelling properties can be tuned by changing the blend ratio, thus constituting appealing bio-matrices for cell encapsulation.

Design of a potentially prebiotic and responsive encapsulation material for probiotic bacteria based on chitosan and sulfated ß-glucan.

HYPOTHESIS: Chitosan and sulfated oat ß-glucan are materials suitable to create a prebiotic coating for targeted delivery to gastrointestinal system, using the layer by layer technology. EXPERIMENT: Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to assess the multilayer formation capacity and characterize the resulting coatings in terms of morphology and material properties such as structure and rigidity. The coating of colloidal materials was proven, specifically on L. acidophilus bacteria as measured by changes in the bacterial suspension zeta potential. Viability of coated cells was shown using plate counting method. The coatings on solid surfaces were examined after exposure to mimics of gastrointestinal fluids and a commercially available ß-glucanase. FINDINGS: Successful build-up of multilayers was confirmed with QCM-D and SE. Zeta potential values proved the coating of cells. There was 2 log CFU/mL decrease after coating cells with four alternating layers of chitosan and sulfated ß-glucan when compared to viability of uncoated cells. The coatings were partially degraded after exposure to simulated intestinal fluid and restructured as a result of ß-glucanase treatment, mimicking enzymes present in the microflora of the human gut, but seemed to resist acidic gastric conditions. Therefore, coatings of chitosan and sulfated ß-glucan can potentially be exploited as carriers for probiotics and delicate nutraceuticals.

Surface cationized cellulose nanofibrils for the production of contact active antimicrobial surfaces.

In the last decade, a new fiber pretreatment has been proposed to make easy cellulose fibrillation into microfibrils. In this context, different surface cationized MFC was prepared by optimizing the experimental parameters for cellulose fibers pretreatment before fibrillation. All MFCs were characterized by conductometric titration to establish degree of substitution, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy assessed the effect of pretreatment on the morphology of the ensuing MFCs. Antibacterial activities of neat and cationized MFC samples were investigated against Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The CATMFC sample at DS greater than 0.18 displayed promising results with antibacterial properties without any leaching of quaternary ammonium into the environment. This work proved the potential of cationic MFCs with specific DS for contact active antimicrobial surface applications in active food packaging, medical packaging or in health and cosmetic field.