Bacterioboat, a Novel Drug Delivery System Development and Application.

Abstract

In spite of having many advantages, administration of a drug through the oral route only allows less than 10% absorption of the drug, which has low solubility or low cell membrane permeability, or both, through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially the small intestine1 . Therefore, it has many disadvantageous consequences, including substantial financial loss due to the requirement of at least ten times more drugs than the body originally required 2–5 . Moreover, oral drug administration usually requires multiple doses due to the faster metabolism of drug molecules in the GI tract. In addition to that, excessive use of drugs shows undesired toxicity in various parts of the digestive tract6,7. Henceforth, reduction of drug use is necessary without compromising the effectiveness of the drugs. This thesis introduces a novel drug delivery approach integrating nanotechnology with microbial vectors, offering a new paradigm for targeted and sustained drug release. We report the development and deployment of Bacterioboat, which consists of surfaceencapsulated mesoporous nanoparticles on metabolically active Lactobacillus reuteri, as a drug carrier suitable for oral administration8 . The porous chitosan nanoparticle layer serves as a protective barrier, shielding the bacteria from any potential adverse effects of the loaded drug while preserving the integrity of the delivery system during its passage through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Importantly, the bacteria remain alive and metabolically active throughout the process, retaining their capacity for biofilm formation, which is crucial for effective colonisation and sustained drug release. The BB system's versatility extends beyond drug delivery. It can attach dietary supplements, such as vitamins and proteins, as well as other beneficial compounds or enzymes, to the microbes. This allows for a sustained release and enhanced bioavailability of these compounds, providing added health benefits without any negative side effects. Furthermore, the BB system can be easily formulated into various oral dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, or oral suspensions. This adaptability ensures that the system can be consumed conveniently and effectively for therapeutic purposes or to deliver desired health benefits.