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Abstract:
Live biotherapeutic products are an emerging novel class of products currently under development to be used for the treatment of clinical challenges such as atopic dermatitis, acne, chronic wounds. Several methods of encapsulation are available to preserve the viability of probiotic bacteria in various harsh environmental conditions. In this work, an innovative microchip electrospinning is developed, which combines microfluidics microchip with electrospinning and enables the preparation of fiber matrices comprising living and functional encapsulated bacteria capable of producing antimicrobial substances. The bacteria are encapsulated into microcapsules, which are immediately within the same process electrospun into hydrophobic fibers. Using confocal microscopy and staining samples with fluorescent dyes, it is confirmed that probiotics are present in fibers. The average concentration of probiotics is 106 bacteria/cm2 in a 1 mm thick matrix. Using an agar overlay assay, it is determined that incorporated probiotics retain their functionality and antimicrobial activity against wound pathogens. This evidence confirms that the electrospun fibers containing microcapsules allow two-way diffusion of substances through pores in fibers (e.g., nutrients in, produced substances out) and support the viability of entrapped bacteria. The electrospun probiotics-loaded fiber matrix developed has potential to be used as a drug delivery system for wound infection treatment.

Keywords:
Microchip electrospinning, Microfluidics, Electrospinning, Probiotics, Wound infection