Scientists develop coated probiotics that can effectively enter the human gut

Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organization as live microorganisms that, when administered in sufficient amounts, can confer health benefits to the host

However, several ways of providing probiotics, including supplements and dairy products, have not been effective in ensuring that they survive the conditions in the human stomach to provide probiotics in sufficient quantities to be beneficial to human health

In the Nanyang Technological University study, probiotics, gut-friendly lactic acid bacteria, were sprayed with alginate (a carbohydrate derived from brown seaweed) to protect them from the harsh acidic environment of the stomach

Through experiments simulating walking in the human digestive tract, only the probiotics with the coating developed by NTU survived

The development of alginate coating technology reflects Nanyang Technological University’s commitment to the needs and challenges of healthy living and ageing, one of the four human challenges that Nanyang Technological University seeks to address through its 2025 Strategic Plan

The study leader, Associate Professor Joachim Loo from Nanyang Technological University's School of Materials Science and Engineering, said: "In recent years, scientific research has shown that personal health is much more dependent on 'good bacteria' in the gut than we previously thought.

"However, probiotics are fragile microorganisms that cannot survive the harsh environment of our stomach

Ms Tan Li Ling, a PhD student at Nanyang Technological University's School of Materials Science and Engineering and lead author of the study, said: "We chose alginate as the coating material because it is safe for human consumption and is of natural origin.

The results of the study were published in the peer-reviewed academic journal Carbohydrate Polymers in February

Expand the use of probiotics

NTU's probiotic coating technology is customizable and can be used to manufacture powder-coated probiotics approximately 10 μm (0.

The method uses protective sugars next to the alginate so that bacteria are not killed during production

The method also utilizes spray drying technology to produce encapsulated probiotics

To make the encapsulated probiotics, the scientists first cultured lactic acid bacteria and then washed them in a salt solution

Coated probiotics can survive for more than 8 weeks if refrigerated

In contrast, probiotic drinks have a shelf life of up to seven weeks when refrigerated, but the probiotics they contain start to die after a few hours at room temperature, the scientists said

In addition to being a potentially more effective way to deliver probiotics, the Nanyang Technological University scientists say they are exploring using their innovation to enrich food and beverages, such as beer and other canned beverages, with the addition of probiotics

 Prof Loo added: "As the paradigm shifts towards preventing disease rather than treating it, probiotics may thus become the key to shaping one's health and keeping one healthy
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By further improving the coating technology, it will have the potential to be applied for a range of other probiotics, as well as for other purposes, including commercial applications in the agri-food and medical industries
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"

"This technology is very versatile because the encapsulated probiotics can be used in many different product types, including dietary supplements and tablets, food and beverages, and even animal feed
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The technology developed by NTU has received interest from companies in the restaurant industry to adopt and further develop it
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Journal Reference :

1. Li Ling Tan, Manish Mahotra, Si Ye Chan, Say Chye Joachim Loo.
   In situ alginate crosslinking during spray-drying of lactobacilli probiotics promotes gastrointestinal-targeted delivery .
   Carbohydrate Polymers , 2022; 286: 119279 DOI: 10.
   1016/j.
   carbpol.
   2022.
   119279