Encapsulation and subsequent freeze-drying of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1324 for its potential inclusion in vaginal probiotic formulations

JUÁREZ TOMÁS MARÍA SILVINA; DE GREGORIO PRISCILLA ROMINA; LECCESE TERRAF MARÍA CECILIA; NADER-MACÍAS MARÍA ELENA FÁTIMA

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015

0928-0987

Probiotic formulations must include a high number of viable and active microorganisms. In this work, the survival of human vaginal Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1324 during encapsulation, lyophilization and storage, and the activity of encapsulated and/or freeze-dried bacterial cells were evaluated. Extrusion ionic gelation technique was applied to encapsulate L. reuteri CRL 1324, using xanthan and gellan. Encapsulated and free bacterial cells were freeze-dried with or without lactose and skimmilk as lyoprotectors. The different systems obtained were stored at room temperature and at 4 °C for 150 days. The following determinationswere performed: L. reuteri CRL 1324 viability, microorganism released from capsules, survival in a medium simulating the vaginal fluid and maintenance of beneficial properties (growth inhibition of opportunistic pathogenic Streptococcus agalactiae NH 17 and biofilm formation). L. reuteri CRL 1324 encapsulation was efficient, allowing the recovery of a high number of entrapped lactobacilli. The survival of encapsulated L. reuteri during lyophilization and storagewas significantly higher in the presence of lyoprotectors. At the end of storage, the highest numbers of viable cellswere obtained in free or encapsulated cells freeze-dried with lyoprotectors, stored at 4 °C. Encapsulated and/or lyophilized L. reuteri cells maintained their viability in simulated vaginal fluid as well as the ability to inhibit S. agalactiae NH17 growth and to form biofilm. Encapsulated and freeze-dried L. reuteri CRL 1324 can be included in a suitable pharmaceutical form for vaginal application to prevent or treat urogenital infections in women.