Probiotic Delivery Systems for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Recent Advances and Translational Challenges

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Biotechnology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder impacting quality of life.
• Probiotics offer therapeutic potential for IBD by modulating gut microbiota and reducing inflammation.
• Current probiotic applications are hindered by poor survival and bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms of probiotic action in the gut.
• To discuss advancements in probiotic delivery systems for IBD.
• To outline evaluation strategies for these delivery systems.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of probiotic mechanisms and delivery platforms (emulsions, nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, nanofibers).
• Overview of in vitro and preclinical evaluation methods (IBD animal models, histology, imaging, immunology, microbiota profiling).

Main Results:

• Effective delivery systems protect probiotics, enhancing stability and bioavailability.
• Optimized delivery systems improve therapeutic efficacy against intestinal inflammation.
• Significant barriers impede clinical translation, including safety, quality control, manufacturing, and regulatory issues.

Conclusions:

• Well-designed probiotic delivery systems hold potential for IBD treatment.
• Addressing manufacturing, regulatory, and standardization challenges is crucial for clinical translation.
• Further research is needed to advance probiotic delivery systems for IBD prevention and treatment.