Probiotics in cellulose houses: Enhanced viability and targeted delivery of Lactobacillus plantarum

Cellulose-based microgels, prepared by the sol-gel transition method, were evaluated to extent the loading capacity and make more controlled release of probiotics. Granules of calcium carbonate as porogenic agents made the cellulose microgels with different porosity, and the S_BET of modified cellulose microgels was increased to 197 m²/g. The microgels were constituted by the interconnected network of the cellulose nanofibrils, which was house-like. The house-liked microgels had the ability for the accommodation of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) as high as 10¹⁰ cfu/g, and the released viable cells was up to 3.10 × 10¹⁰ cfu/g. Furthermore, the Ca-alginate shell protection of the cellulose houses kept the loaded L. plantarum cells from liberating into stomach but released the cells at intestinal tracts due to the effect of pH-responsibility. From the cross-sectional fluorescence image, L. plantarum cells mainly focused on the cellulose microgels houses instead of Ca-alginate shell. It indicated that the surface modification of the cellulose microgels houses by using alginate based hydrogel exhibited more controlled release of L. plantarum cells, which could be increased to 5.80 × 10⁸ cfu/mL at 360 min. Prolonged duration in simulated intestine fluid contributed to making sure that cells reached the desired region of intestine tracts. The designed composite system advances in affording better shelter for probiotic residence or other bioactive nutrients.