Site-specific delivery of polymeric encapsulated microorganisms: a patent evaluation of US20170165201A1

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Probiotics inculde live microorganisms therapeutically effective in the treatment of wide range of diseases. Probiotics possibly stimulates the growth of preferred microorganisms, crowds out potentially harmful microorganisms, and reinforces the body’s natural defense mechanisms. Microencapsulation of probiotic microorganisms protects them from the destructive environment and prolongs their survival. Use of mucoadhesive and pH responsive polymers could impart extended retention, pH sensitive release and mucoadhesive properties to the system. The probiotic formulations could be used for therapeutic, diagnostic, and prophylactic purposes.

Areas covered: Layer-by-layer techology was developed for encapsulating Bacillus coagulans employing chitosan and alginate as mucoadhesive polymers (for attachment to the gastrointestinal mucosa) and Eudragit EPO and Eudragit L100 as pH responsive polymers (for site-specific delivery). The formulation was evaluated for layer stability, mucoadhesion capability, protection of microorganisms from biological insults, pH responsive layer removal, in vitro evaluation in three-dimensional intestinal tissue model, probiotic bacterial delivery.

Expert opinion: In this patent, a unique layer-by-layer assembly of two differently charged polymers (mucoadhesive and pH repsonsive) was achieved for encapsulating the probiotic microorganism. For assessing the clinical applicability of the invention, further studies may be needed since the conclusions are drawn solely based on in vitro data.

KEYWORDS:

• Probiotics
• microrganisms
• layer-by-layer
• mucoadhesive polymer
• pH responsive polymer

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Review disclosures

A peer reviewer on this manuscript declares that they are an inventor on the patent that is the topic of this paper but have no other relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This article was not funded.