Apple-derived 3D scaffold for improving gastrointestinal viability and in-situ growth of probiotics

This study develops a novel low-cost microbial delivery system by transforming common food materials such as apple tissue into a 3D scaffold. Apple tissue scaffold was constructed by decellularization of intact tissue using a minimal amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.5 % w/v). Vacuum-assisted infusion of model probiotic Lactobacillus cells led to a high encapsulation yield of probiotic cells (10¹⁰ CFU/g of scaffold) in 3D scaffolds on a wet basis. The bio-polymer coated 3D scaffolds with infused cells significantly enhanced the survivability of infused probiotic cells during simulated gastric and intestinal digestions. In addition, imaging and plate counting results validate the growth of the infused cells in the 3D scaffold after 1-2 days of fermentation in MRS media, while cells without infusion in the scaffold had limited attachment with the intact apple tissue. Overall, these results highlight the potential of the apple tissue-derived 3D scaffold to deliver probiotic cells and include the biochemical compositions to support the growth of delivered microbial cells in the colon.