BioGEM Researchers Develop Probiotic Encapsulation System to Improve Intestinal Tissue Treatments
The study, conducted within the Milennium Nucleus BioGEM, developed sustainable lemon pectin-based capsules to enhance probiotics against intestinal wall failures. This advance aims to improve digestive treatments and position Chile in biotechnological development.
Scientists from the Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO) and Universidad San Sebastián (Chile), together with the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and the Technical University of Berlin (Germany), have developed a probiotic encapsulation system that could enhance the repair of the intestinal lining.
This research, carried out under the Milennium Nucleus BioGEM (ANID) and the EU H2020 project "ENCAP4HEALTH", proposes a strategy to support treatments for digestive inflammatory diseases and promote the recovery of wounds in the gastrointestinal tract.
The work was led by researcher Felipe Gálvez-Jirón and focused on evaluating how the bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum – known for its beneficial properties for the gut – can be better protected during its passage through the digestive system, and how these capsules protect intestinal tissue and aid its regeneration when damaged.
Protection was achieved through an encapsulation process using pectins, natural polysaccharides present in many fruits, which act as a "wrapper" for the bacteria, helping them reach the colon alive and active.
As explained by BioGEM-UFRO PhD student and article author Felipe Gálvez: "We used lemon pectin and chitosan (extracted from a fungus) as the encapsulation system. These biopolymers also exhibit beneficial effects in the colon. Furthermore, obtaining pectin from agro-industrial waste makes it a sustainable and environmentally friendly material."
"Our goal was to test whether the encapsulation systems maintain the probiotic's viability. We also sought to understand if these systems –both empty and loaded with the probiotic– can protect intestinal cells against in vitro damage while analyzing their potential effect in helping heal wounds in this intestinal tissue," he added.
Meanwhile, the deputy director of the Millennium Nucleus BioGEM and UFRO academic, Dr. Francisca Acevedo, highlighted the scope of this research, which allows "positioning Chile as a generator of high-level scientific knowledge and, simultaneously, as a future reference in the development of innovative products for intestinal health. Additionally, the abundant biomass from our national agro-industry opens a unique opportunity: to make the country a leading producer of functional biopolymers."
"Centers like BioGEM are key to this progress: they provide us with specialized tools and strengthen our competencies, enabling us to achieve these results with scaling potential. Their multidisciplinary model fosters debate and synergy of ideas, enhancing the essential capabilities to generate excellence in science," she emphasized.
The importance of this advance lies in the fact that by improving the survival of probiotic bacteria, their ability to positively influence the repair and strengthening of the intestinal barrier can be enhanced.
Indeed, preliminary results in cellular models indicated that these microcapsules with Lactobacillus plantarum favored processes related to cell proliferation and regeneration of the intestinal epithelium, without promoting unwanted inflammatory effects.
Although the findings correspond to laboratory experiments, they open the door to future research that could translate into new therapeutic options for people suffering from diseases characterized by intestinal mucosal damage, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
This advance results from collaboration between researchers Felipe Gálvez, Francisca Acevedo, and Traudy Wandersleben (UFRO); Rodrigo Navia (USS); Paul de Vos and his team (University of Groningen); and Stephan Drusch (Technical University of Berlin).
New Opportunities for Clinical Solutions
When asked about potential clinical applications of the biopolymer, Gálvez stressed that "we first need to validate the beneficial effects of our capsules in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease. To scale the development, stability studies, designing attractive packaging for consumers, and large-scale production are key."
Dr. Acevedo expanded this perspective, adding: "As a product based on functional biopolymers – microcapsules with probiotics – we must overcome three gaps: biomedical (verifying protection in advanced models), technological (scaling production), and social (educating about intestinal health benefits)."
This study, published in the international journal Food Hydrocolloids for Health, is part of the joint effort to integrate knowledge from food science, biomaterials, microbiology, and translational medicine, seeking innovative solutions that could translate into clinical applications in the future.