Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
Food Res Int. 2022 Jun;156:111355. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111355. Epub 2022 May 14.
In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) were used to develop C-NeuAc hydrogels to encapsulate Pediococcus pentosaceus QK-1. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, in vitro degradation, and pH sensitivity of the hydrogel were evaluated. The C-NeuAc concentration required for optimal hydrogel performance was 3% (w/v). Hydrogel swelling behaviour was effectively assessed by Fickian diffusion and Schott's second-order kinetic models. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and low in vitro cytotoxicity. An in vitro assay revealed that the viability of Pediococcus pentosaceus QK-1 in C-NeuAc had decreased by only 1.41 log (CFU/ mL) after exposure to simulated acidic gastric fluid. Moreover, the survival rate of the encapsulated and free Pediococcus pentosaceus QK-1 cells were 80.1% and virtually zero, respectively, after passage through the gastrointestinal tract. It was empirically determined that low temperature and freeze-drying were the ideal condition and method to ensure storage longevity of the hydrogel-encapsulated probiotic. Hence, C-NeuAc hydrogel is highly desirable as a food-grade probiotic delivery vehicle.
在这项研究中，使用羧甲基壳聚糖（CMCS）和 N-乙酰神经氨酸（NeuAc）开发 C-NeuAc 水凝胶来包埋戊糖片球菌 QK-1。评估了水凝胶的机械性能、热稳定性、体外降解性和 pH 敏感性。水凝胶性能最佳所需的 C-NeuAc 浓度为 3%（w/v）。水凝胶的溶胀行为通过菲克扩散和肖特二阶动力学模型进行了有效评估。水凝胶表现出良好的生物相容性和低体外细胞毒性。体外试验表明，戊糖片球菌 QK-1 在 C-NeuAc 中的存活率在暴露于模拟酸性胃液后仅下降了 1.41 个对数（CFU/mL）。此外，包封和游离戊糖片球菌 QK-1 细胞通过胃肠道后的存活率分别为 80.1%和几乎为零。经验确定低温和冷冻干燥是确保水凝胶包埋益生菌储存寿命的理想条件和方法。因此，C-NeuAc 水凝胶是一种理想的食品级益生菌输送载体。
