C-NeuAc/OHEC hydrogels were prepared from carboxymethyl chitosan/N-acetylneuraminic acid (C-NeuAc) and oxidised hydroxyethyl cellulose (OHEC), and used as novel vehicles for the co-encapsulation of Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1 and isomaltose-oligosaccharide (IMO). The thermal stability, rheological behaviour, swelling kinetics, porosity, pH sensitivity, and degradability of the hydrogels were evaluated. The hydrogels were most stable and were suitable as vehicles for co-encapsulation of Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1 and IMO when C-NeuAc:OHEC = 5:4. In the presence of IMO, the encapsulation efficiency of the hydrogel was optimal and in the range of 91.02–94.63%. An in vitro assay revealed that the C-NeuAc/OHEC hydrogel provided good protection for Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1 against the harsh conditions of a simulated gastrointestinal tract. The survival rate of Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1 was only 77.0% in the presence of free IMO. By contrast, the survival rates of Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1 co-encapsulated with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% IMO were 84.4%, 90.8%, and 90.3%, respectively. Hence, IMO co-encapsulation significantly improved probiotic survival. Moreover, co-encapsulation with 1.0% IMO and 4 °C were the optimal storage condition for Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1. The present work showed that C-NeuAc/OHEC hydrogels are promising as probiotic co-encapsulation delivery vehicles.

C-NeuAc/OHEC 水凝胶由羧甲基壳聚糖/N-乙酰神经氨酸 (C-NeuAc) 和氧化羟乙基纤维素 (OHEC) 制备，并用作共包封戊糖片球菌 RQ-1 和异麦芽寡糖的新型载体（海事组织）。评估了水凝胶的热稳定性、流变行为、溶胀动力学、孔隙率、pH 敏感性和可降解性。当 C-NeuAc:OHEC = 5:4 时，水凝胶最稳定，适合作为戊糖片球菌RQ-1 和 IMO 共包封的载体。在 IMO 存在下，水凝胶的包封效率最佳，在 91.02–94.63% 的范围内。体外试验表明，C-NeuAc/ OHEC水凝胶为Pediococcus pentosaceus RQ-1 对抗模拟胃肠道的恶劣条件。在游离 IMO 存在的情况下，戊糖片球菌RQ-1的存活率仅为 77.0%。相比之下，与 0.5%、1.0% 和 1.5% IMO 共包封的戊糖片球菌RQ-1 的存活率分别为 84.4%、90.8% 和 90.3%。因此，IMO 共包封显着提高了益生菌的存活率。此外，与 1.0% IMO 和 4 °C 共同封装是戊糖片球菌RQ-1 的最佳储存条件。目前的工作表明，C-NeuAc/OHEC 水凝胶有望作为益生菌共包封运载工具。