The delivery of active probiotic cells in capsules can reduce probiotic cell loss induced by detrimental external factors during digestion. In this study, we determined the optimal conditions for the encapsulation of Weissella cibaria JW15 (JW15) within calcium and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-alginate with chicory root extract powder (CREP). JW15 was encapsulated as the core material (109 cells/mL, 2 mL/min), and a solution containing a mixture of 1.5% sodium alginate and 1% CREP was extruded into a receiving bath with 0.1 M calcium chloride (CaCl2 ) and 0.05% PEG. Capsule morphology and size were measured using optical microscopy. The optimal air pressure and frequency vibration for capsules containing alginate only (Al) were 200 mbar and 200 Hz, respectively and 100 mbar and 350 Hz for capsules containing alginate with CREP (Ch), respectively. The voltage for both capsules types was fixed at 1.35 kV. Then, the capsules were incubated in a simulated gastrointestinal (GI) system for 6 hr at 37 °C. The addition of PEG in a CaCl2 hardening solution led to degradation of the Ch capsule (Ch-PEG) and the release of cells into the small intestine vessel in the simulated GI system. By contrast, the cells were trapped within the Al capsules. Based on these data, effective encapsulation using alginate with CREP and PEG can enable JW15 to be released at a targeted anatomical site of activity within the GI system, thereby, enhancing the efficacy of probiotic cells. These protective effects can be leveraged during the development of probiotic products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Weissella cibaria JW15 (109 cells/mL) was encapsulated in biodegradable and biocompatible capsules, prepared by mixing 1.5% alginate with 1% chicory root extract powder (CREP) in 0.1 M CaCl2 and 0.05% PEG using an encapsulator. The optimal processing parameters were as follows: pressure, 100 mbar; vibration frequency, 350 Hz; voltage, 1.35 kV; and core flow rate, 2 mL/min. When the resulting capsules were subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal system for 6 hr, the cells were released into the small intestine, and up to 95% cell viability was preserved. These results suggest that capsules made from alginate with CREP and formulated using calcium and PEG are a promising delivery system for probiotic cells.

中文翻译：

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海藻酸盐和菊苣根包封Weissell cibaria JW15的最佳条件以及模拟胃肠系统中胶囊稳定性的评价


在胶囊中输送活性益生菌细胞可以减少消化过程中有害外部因素引起的益生菌细胞损失。在这项研究中，我们确定了用菊苣根提取物粉末 (CREP) 将白魏斯氏菌 JW15 (JW15) 封装在钙和聚乙二醇 (PEG)-海藻酸盐中的最佳条件。将 JW15 封装为核心材料（109 个细胞/mL，2 mL/min），将含有 1.5% 海藻酸钠和 1% CREP 的混合物的溶液挤出到含有 0.1 M 氯化钙（CaCl2 ）和 0.05 ％聚乙二醇。使用光学显微镜测量胶囊形态和尺寸。仅含有海藻酸盐的胶囊 (Al) 的最佳气压和振动频率分别为 200 mbar 和 200 Hz，而含有海藻酸盐和 CREP (Ch) 的胶囊的最佳气压和振动频率分别为 100 mbar 和 350 Hz。两种胶囊类型的电压固定为 1.35 kV。然后，将胶囊在模拟胃肠 (GI) 系统中在 37°C 下孵育 6 小时。在 CaCl2 硬化溶液中添加 PEG 会导致 Ch 胶囊 (Ch-PEG) 降解，并将细胞释放到模拟胃肠道系统的小肠血管中。相比之下，细胞被困在铝胶囊内。基于这些数据，使用海藻酸盐与 CREP 和 PEG 进行有效封装可以使 JW15 能够在胃肠道系统内的目标解剖部位释放活性，从而增强益生菌细胞的功效。在益生菌产品的开发过程中可以利用这些保护作用。实际应用：Weissell cibaria JW15（109 个细胞/mL）封装在可生物降解且生物相容的胶囊中，该胶囊是通过将 1.5% 海藻酸盐与 1% 菊苣根提取物粉末 (CREP) 在 0.1 M CaCl2 和 0.1 M CaCl2 中混合而制备的。使用封装剂的 05% PEG。最佳工艺参数为：压力，100 mbar；振动频率，350赫兹；电压，1.35kV；和核心流速，2 mL/min。当所得胶囊经受模拟胃肠系统 6 小时后，细胞被释放到小肠中，并保留了高达 95% 的细胞活力。这些结果表明，由藻酸盐与 CREP 制成并使用钙和 PEG 配制的胶囊是一种有前途的益生菌细胞递送系统。