title: Association of Lactobacillus crispatus with fructo-oligosaccharides and ascorbic acid in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose vaginal insert.
abstract: The aim of this work was to develop a synbiotic vaginal insert containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus crispatus BC5, the prebiotic substrate fructo-oligosaccharide and the antioxidant agent ascorbic acid, for the prophylaxis and therapy of vaginal infections. Mucoadhesive in situ gelling vaginal inserts based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were prepared by freeze-drying, stored at +2-8 °C for 90 days and characterized in terms of technological and functional properties. Complete survival of L. crispatus BC5 was found immediately after insert preparation (96.08%) as well as after 90 days of storage (95.82%) in the vaginal inserts containing fructo-oligosaccharide, ascorbic acid and skimmed milk. Synbiotic inserts showed improved mucoadhesion ability (from three- to five-fold) with respect to a standard formulation based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose alone. Moreover, inserts allowed to modulate lactobacilli release in virtue of the different amounts of fructo-oligosaccharide. Finally, antimicrobial activity was exerted by L. crispatus BC5 released from the vaginal formulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: b.vitali@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: angela.abruzzo2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abruzzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: carola.parolin@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parolin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: rogers.nahuipalomin2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Rogers Alberto Ñahui
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Palomino
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Chemical Technologies Department, University of Calabria, Cubo 15/D, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: dalena.ch@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalena
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: federica.bigucci@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bigucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: teresa.cerchiara2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cerchiara
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.luppi@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luppi
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000737:chemistry*; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014867:Water; D005632:Fructose; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives
keywords: Ascorbic acid; Fructo-oligosaccharide; In situ gelling inserts; Lactobacillus crispatus; Mucoadhesion; Vaginal release