INCORPORATION OF L. rhamnosus CRL1332 TO FEMALE HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND THEIR CHARACTERIZATION

SILVA, JESSICA ALEJANDRA; DE GREGORIO, PRISCILLA ROMINA; RIVERO, GUADALUPE; ABRAHAM, GUSTAVO A.; MARÍA ELENA FÁTIMA NADER-MACÍAS

Congreso; ANNUAL MEETING OF BIOSCIENCE SOCIETIES 2021; 2021

Lactobacilli play a basic role in the physiology of the urogenital tract of healthy women maintaining the vaginal pH below 4.5. This acidic environment in combination with other antimicrobial substances secreted by lactobacilli create a barrier against the income of pathogens. However, vaginal microbiota can be unbalanced by different exogenous and endogenous factors. An excellent alternative to reconstitute the vaginal ecosystem and prevent/treat urogenital infectionsis the application of products containing probiotic lactobacilli. In previous works, the immobilization of L. rhamnosus CRL1332 in polymeric nanofibers by electrospinning was optimized. The aim ofthis work was to evaluate the incorporation of L. rh. CRL1332-nanofibers with/without bioprotectors in female hygiene products. Acidification capability of L. rh. CRL1332-nanofiber was evaluated.Tampons, panty liners and textile substrates were covered with BVLAB-nanofibers by adapting the electrospinning set up. L. rh. CRL1332-nanofibers covering the different substrates were quantifiedduring storage. Morphological and physical-chemical characterization of coated products were carried out. The vibratory system was suitable for tampons, while a translational movement devicewas optimal for panty liners/textile substrates. L. rh. CRL1332-nanofibers vacuum packed under refrigerated conditions remained viable (> 107 CFU/g) for up to 360 days and retained the acidifying capability. The bacteria immobilized in nanofibers on the different substrates were evidenced by electronic microscopy (SEM), chemical (ATR-FTIR) and thermal (TGA and DSC) analysis. The results obtained show that the electrospinning technique is an innovative method to coat feminine hygiene products with viable lactobacilli probiotics, in a way to restore the vaginal tract.