The biologically active platforms such as hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic porous structures capable of supporting bioactive components attachment to their surface. By providing a physical barrier between encapsulated biomolecules and the harmful environment, hydrogels can enhance their viability and stability. They can serve as cargos for sustainable and controlled delivery of bioactive compounds to the site of action through reversible sol-gel transitions by responding to external triggers. Thus, it is crucial to develop a hydrogel matrix with smart or intelligent properties that can undergo structural and volume changes in response to different stimuli. Here, we have fabricated a self-assembled, stimuli-responsive, novel tri-composite polysaccharide-based hydrogel of chitosan, gellan, and κ-carrageenan devoid of toxic chemical cross-linkers. Although there are several reports on the encapsulation of probiotics and bioactive compounds, however maintaining the viability of loaded probiotics, stability of folate, and their bioavailability is still a challenge. We utilized this hydrogel to facilitate the co-encapsulation of folate (vitamin B9) and probiotic spores. Its encapsulation with folate, while increasing nutritional value of system, also allows maintaining the viability of spores. The studies on hydrogel revealed that it had remarkable encapsulation efficiency and exhibited sustainable release. The release rate studies at different pH suggested maximum release in alkaline conditions, which correlates with in vitro release in the simulated intestinal phase. Moreover, microscopic and FE-SEM analysis depicted the conversion and colonization of bacterial spores to vegetative cells in the intestinal phase. Overall, this study paves the way to develop a green matrix for co-encapsulating various functional foods with controlled delivery at the targeted site.

Polysaccharide-based self-assembled smart hydrogel for <i>in vitro</i> delivery of co-encapsulated probiotics and folic acid

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Polysaccharide-based self-assembled smart hydrogel for in vitro delivery of co-encapsulated probiotics and folic acid