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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device
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Microfluidics-Derived Microparticles with Prebiotics and Probiotics for Enhanced In Situ Colonization and

Yi Yin1, Zhun Li2, Hengfei Gao1

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.

Nano Letters
|January 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

A novel microfluidics strategy encapsulates probiotics and prebiotics for improved gut delivery. This system effectively treats inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer by reducing inflammation and promoting beneficial gut bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Effective oral probiotic delivery faces challenges due to the harsh gastrointestinal environment.
  • Maintaining gut microbial balance is crucial for immune response and preventing diseases like IBD and colorectal cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a microfluidics-derived encapsulation strategy for synergistic probiotic and prebiotic delivery.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of this system in treating experimental colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing microfluidics to create EcN Nissle 1917 and prebiotic (alginate sodium, inulin) composite microparticles (EcN@AN).
  • Assessing gastrointestinal resistance, colon-retentive capability, and therapeutic effects in murine models of colitis.

Main Results:

  • EcN@AN microparticles demonstrated enhanced gastrointestinal resistance and colon targeting.
  • The microparticles effectively ameliorated intestinal inflammation and modulated the gut microbiome.
  • Prebiotic components promoted short-chain fatty acid production, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and tumor-suppressive effects.

Conclusions:

  • Microfluidics-based encapsulation offers a promising approach for coordinated probiotic and prebiotic delivery.
  • This synergistic system shows potential for treating inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
  • The strategy has broad implications for advancing gastrointestinal bacteriotherapy.
Keywords:
high-throughput microfluidic chipsinflammatory bowel diseaseprebioticsprobioticsshort-chain fatty acids

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