Chitosan-dextran sulfate hydrogels as a potential carrier for probiotics

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Chitosan and dextran sulfate are biocompatible polymers with potential for drug and cell delivery.
• Developing effective encapsulation methods is crucial for probiotic survival and efficacy.
• Genipin crosslinking offers a biocompatible approach for hydrogel formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel chitosan-dextran sulfate hydrogels for probiotic encapsulation.
• To investigate the influence of hydrogel composition on swelling, morphology, and cell viability.
• To assess the suitability of these hydrogels as biomatrices for encapsulating Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of chitosan-dextran sulfate hydrogels crosslinked with genipin.
• Characterization of hydrogel swelling behavior across different pH conditions.
• Morphological analysis using microscopy.
• Viability and culturability assays for encapsulated Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Main Results:

• Hydrogel swelling was composition-dependent and minimally affected by pH.
• Morphology varied with composition, correlating with swelling data.
• A decrease of approximately 3.6 log CFU/mL was observed for cells in chemical hydrogels compared to native cells.
• Live/dead assays indicated significant viable cell populations within the hydrogel network, suggesting underestimation of viability by culturability alone.

Conclusions:

• The developed chitosan-dextran sulfate hydrogels are robust biomaterials for cell encapsulation.
• Tunable properties (structure, rheology, swelling) make them adaptable for specific applications.
• These hydrogels show promise for probiotic delivery, with potential for improved cell protection and viability.