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Oral delivery of bacteria: Basic principles and biomedical applications
Shuqi Li1, Weiqian Jiang2, Chunxiong Zheng3
1Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
Summary
Oral bacterial therapy offers a promising approach for treating diseases. Encapsulating bacteria in microcapsules protects them during gastrointestinal passage, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Bacterial therapy utilizes engineered bacteria as a smart platform for therapeutic agent delivery and production.
- Synthetic biology enhances bacterial traits like chemotaxis and biomolecule secretion for improved diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Oral administration of bacteria offers better patient compliance and avoids systemic infection risks compared to injections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the principles of oral bacterial delivery, including genetic engineering and encapsulation methods.
- To summarize recent biomedical applications of orally delivered bacteria.
- To discuss future trends and challenges in advancing oral bacterial therapy for clinical use.
Main Methods:
- Internal genetic engineering of bacteria.
- External encapsulation of bacteria using biomaterials.
- Modification of bacterial delivery systems.
Main Results:
- Oral delivery of bacteria faces viability challenges due to stomach acidity and intestinal bile salts.
- Microencapsulation is a key strategy to protect bacteria during gastrointestinal transit.
- Engineered bacteria demonstrate potential in various disease treatment applications.
Conclusions:
- Oral bacterial therapy, particularly when encapsulated, shows significant promise for disease treatment.
- Overcoming viability issues is crucial for successful clinical translation.
- Continued research in genetic engineering and formulation is essential for future advancements.
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