title: Microencapsulation of a synbiotic into PLGA/alginate multiparticulate gels.
abstract: Probiotic bacteria have gained popularity as a defence against disorders of the bowel. However, the acid sensitivity of these cells results in a loss of viability during gastric passage and, consequently, a loss of efficacy. Probiotic treatment can be supplemented using 'prebiotics', which are carbohydrates fermented specifically by probiotic cells in the body. This combination of probiotic and prebiotic is termed a 'synbiotic'. Within this article a multiparticulate dosage form has been developed, consisting of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules containing prebiotic Bimuno™ incorporated into an alginate-chitosan matrix containing probiotic Bifidobacterium breve. The aim of this multiparticulate was that, in vivo, the probiotic would be protected against gastric acid and the release of the prebiotic would occur in the distal colon. After microscopic investigation, this synbiotic multiparticulate was shown to control the release of the prebiotic during in vitro gastrointestinal transit, with the release of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) initially occurred over 6h, but with a triphasic release pattern giving further release over 288 h. Encapsulation of B. breve in multiparticulates resulted in a survival of 8.0 ± 0.3 logCFU/mL cells in acid, an improvement over alginate-chitosan microencapsulation of 1.4 logCFU/mL. This was attributed to increased hydrophobicity by the incorporation of PLGA particles.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Clasado Research Services Ltd, Science and Technology Centre, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6BZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzortzis
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charalampopoulos
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: V.Khutoryanskiy@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Vitaliy V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Khutoryanskiy
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002214:Capsules; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D005782:Gels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000737:chemistry*; D058616:Synbiotics
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D005782:Gels; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D056692:Prebiotics; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: Bifidobacterium; Encapsulation; GOS; Galacto-oligosaccharides; Prebiotic; Probiotic