Nanoparticle-enhanced postbiotics: Revolutionizing cancer therapy through effective delivery

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Gastroenterology
• Oncology

Background:

• Gastric cancer poses a significant global health burden, with chemotherapy exhibiting severe adverse effects.
• Postbiotics, derived from nonviable probiotics like Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-133 (SGMNL-133), offer a safer alternative for cancer therapy.
• Efficient in vivo delivery of postbiotics remains a critical challenge for their therapeutic application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a nanoparticle (NP) formulation for encapsulating Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-133 (SGMNL-133).
• To enhance the therapeutic efficacy of SGMNL-133 in treating gastric cancer through improved delivery.
• To overcome the limitations of in vivo administration of postbiotics.

Main Methods:

• Optimized isolation and extraction of L. paracasei GMNL-133 (SGMNL-133) to maximize its anti-proliferative activity.
• Developed novel nanoparticles using arginine-chitosan and fucoidan to encapsulate SGMNL-133.
• Evaluated the protective effects, mucus penetration, and anti-tumor efficacy of the SGMNL-133-loaded NPs in vitro and in vivo models.

Main Results:

• The developed NPs successfully protected SGMNL-133 from gastric acid degradation.
• Enhanced mucus penetration and improved interaction with gastric cancer cells were observed.
• In vivo studies demonstrated significant enhancement in treating orthotopic gastric tumors and reduced tissue inflammation.

Conclusions:

• The optimized SGMNL-133 extraction and NP formulation represent a promising strategy for gastric cancer therapy.
• The NP system effectively delivers SGMNL-133, overcoming biological barriers and enhancing anti-tumor activity.
• This approach offers a safer and more effective alternative to conventional chemotherapy for gastric cancer.