bims-livmat 2026-02-22 papers

Microb Biotechnol. 2026 Feb;19(2): e70305

Next-Generation Microencapsulation Technologies for Probiotic Protection and Precision Delivery.

Yixin Zhu, Longxian Lv, Bingbing Du, Mingrui Zhao.

Probiotics offer well-documented benefits, including improved gastrointestinal function, microbiota modulation, and immune enhancement. However, their therapeutic potential is limited by poor survival during oral delivery due to gastric acid, bile salts, and pathological gut conditions. Microencapsulation has emerged as a transformative strategy to enhance probiotic viability by shielding them from environmental stressors. This review comprehensively examines cutting-edge microencapsulation materials and innovative techniques that improve probiotic stability under thermal, oxidative, and gastrointestinal stresses. We highlight advanced delivery systems, such as pH-responsive and inflammation-targeted microcapsules, which enable precise intestinal release and enhanced colonisation. Additionally, we critically assess safety considerations and industrial scalability challenges, emphasising the need for biocompatible materials and cost-effective production. By integrating recent breakthroughs with practical applications, this review underscores the potential of next-generation microencapsulation to enable safer, more efficient, and personalised probiotic therapies.

Keywords: environmental stress; microencapsulation; probiotics; targeted drug delivery

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.70305

Mater Today Bio. 2026 Apr;37 102902

Oral delivery of engineered Lactococcus lactis microcapsules expressing antioxidant enzymes for inflammatory bowel disease: Mechanisms of intestinal barrier repair and microbiota modulation.

Yue Meng, Chao Miao, Jiaxin Guo, Wei Zhang, Ling Guo, Yu Zhang, Yujun Jiang.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, alongside disrupted gut microbiota. Therefore, eliminating ROS in the inflammatory site by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) represents a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD. To this end, we genetically engineered Lactococcus lactis to construct an antioxidant probiotic strain, LL-SC, by integrating a fusion gene (SC) encoding SOD and CAT. To further enhance gastrointestinal survival, LL-SC was encapsulated with a composite nanomaterial of mucosal-adhesive chitosan and sodium alginate to produce LL-SC-C2A2 with antioxidant enzyme expression capability and a nano-protective coating. Compared to uncoated LL-SC, LL-SC-C2A2 exhibited significantly improved gastric acid tolerance with 1.4-fold increases. Protective effects of LL-SC-C2A2 were confirmed across cellular and animal models, including H2O2-stimulated Caco-2 cells and a DSS-induced murine colitis model. This was achieved through ROS scavenging, pro-inflammatory cytokine reduction, intestinal barrier reinforcement, and restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis. Overall, food-grade LL-SC-C2A2 represents a novel approach to probiotic modification, providing a new strategy and experimental evidence supporting further development for IBD therapy.

Keywords: Antioxidant delivery; Encapsulation; Engineered probiotics; Gut microbiota; Inflammatory bowel disease; Synergistic therapy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.102902

Bioresour Bioprocess. 2026 Feb 17. 13(1): 25

Propionate-engineered probiotics reduce radiation-induced intestinal damage.

Xinran Gao, Jiahao Wu, Kaihua Ji, Mengxue Gao, Yufei Guo, Lina Wang, Xiaoxiao Jia, Xinran Lu, Zhixin Zhu, Qinghua Wang, Ping Wang, Zhenyu Zhao, Guangbo Kang, Qiang Liu, He Huang.

Radiation enteritis is a common complication in patients undergoing abdominal radiotherapy. Current management strategies face significant limitations: clinical agents like amifostine are hindered by systemic side effects and demanding administration; direct supplementation with radioprotective metabolites such as propionate suffers from low bioavailability and transient action; and conventional probiotics lack targeted therapeutic output. To address these challenges, we engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 to function as a living therapeutic that continuously produces and delivers propionate directly in the gut. This propionate-engineered probiotic achieved a production yield of 181.33 ± 4.27 mg/L in vitro. In a mouse model of abdominal irradiation, this engineered bacterium alleviated radiation-induced intestinal damage by continuously releasing propionate and enhancing intestinal epithelial barrier function. Multi-omics analysis revealed that the engineered bacterium could restore intestinal microbiota homeostasis, enhancing the abundance of advantageous bacteria with radioprotective properties (e.g., Dubosiella, Akkermansia). Moreover, it modulated intestinal microbiota metabolism, influencing the metabolism of ascorbic acid, aldoses, and other metabolites. Additionally, it protected the intestinal mucosal barrier from radiation-induced damage, which was associated with the modulation of the SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. This study introduces a novel biological therapy to mitigate the side effects of radiotherapy and could open new avenues for preventing and treating radiation-induced intestinal injury.

Keywords: Engineered probiotics; Gut; Gut microbiota; Propionate synthetic biology; Radiation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-026-01020-9