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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms
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Microfluidic-based multifunctional microspheres for enhanced oral co-delivery of probiotics and postbiotics

Xinyuan Yang1, Weimin Nie1, Chong Wang1

  • 1Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Biomaterials
|April 6, 2024
PubMed

Insights

New hydrogel microspheres deliver probiotics and therapeutic molecules to the colon, improving gut health and reducing inflammation. This microfluidic platform enhances microbial therapies for conditions like colitis.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Probiotic therapies show promise for gut health but face challenges like low efficacy and short retention.
  • Oral probiotics often lose bioactivity and fail to reach the colon effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a multifunctional delivery platform for enhanced probiotic therapy.
  • To co-deliver probiotics (Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, EcN) and indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) for synergistic effects.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized droplet microfluidics to create mucoadhesive hydrogel microspheres.
  • Engineered microspheres for colonic targeting and co-delivery of EcN and IPA.
  • Evaluated therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of colitis.

Main Results:

  • Microspheres demonstrated colonic targeting and mucoadhesive properties.
  • Co-delivery significantly reduced intestinal inflammation and repaired the intestinal barrier.
  • Enhanced probiotic colonization and modulated gut microbiota composition.
  • Achieved synergistic therapeutic effects in the colitis mouse model.

Conclusions:

  • Microfluidic-based hydrogel microspheres offer a versatile platform for advanced microbial therapies.
  • This approach overcomes limitations of oral probiotics, improving treatment efficacy for intestinal diseases.
  • The developed system shows significant potential for treating conditions like colitis.
Keywords:
Gut microbiomeMicrofluidicsMultifunctional microspheresOral co-deliveryProbiotics and postbiotics

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