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Fil: Tarifa, María Clara. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, CIT Río Negro. Río Negro, Argentina Fil: Piqueras, Cristian Martín. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química (UNS-CONICET). Departamento de Ingeniería Química (UNS). Buenos Aires, Argentina Fil: Genovese, Diego Bautista. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química (UNS-CONICET). Departamento de Ingeniería Química (UNS). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fil: Brugnoni, Lorena Inés. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (UNS-CONICET). Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia (UNS). Buenos Aires, Argentina The main objective of the research was to evaluate the performance of synbiotic delivery systems using pectin microgels on the protection of two probiotic strains (Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG [ATCC 53103]) to simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GD) and storage conditions (4 ± 1 °C) in a 42 days trial. Microgel particles were prepared by ionotropic gelation method and three variables were evaluated: incubation time (24 and 48 h), free vs encapsulated cells, and presence or absence of prebiotic (commercial and Jerusalem artichoke inulin). Results demonstrated an encapsulation efficiency of 96±4% into particles with a mean diameter between 56 and 118 μm. The viability of encapsulated cells after 42 days storage stayed above 7 log units, being encapsulated cells in pectin-inulin microgels more resistant to GD compared to non-encapsulated cells or without prebiotics. In all cases incubation time influenced the strains' survival. El objetivo principal de la investigación fue evaluar el rendimiento de sistemas simbióticos utilizando microgeles de pectina para la protección de dos cepas probióticas (Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 y Lactobacillus rhamnosus cepa GG [ATCC 53103]) frente a dos situaciones: simulación de condiciones de digestión gastrointestinal (DG) y bajo almacenamiento (4 ± 1 ° C) a lo largo de 42 días. Las partículas de microgel se prepararon mediante el método de gelificación ionotrópica y se evaluaron tres variables: tiempo de incubación (24 y 48 h), células libres vs encapsuladas y presencia o ausencia de prebióticos (inulina comercial e inulina de topinambur). Los resultados demostraron una eficiencia de encapsulación de los probióticas del 96 ± 4% en partículas con un diámetro medio entre 56 y 118 μm. La viabilidad de las células encapsuladas al termino de los 42 días de almacenamiento se mantuvo por encima de 7 unidades logarítmicas, siendo las células encapsuladas en los sistemas de microgeles pectina-inulina más resistentes a la DG en comparación con las células no encapsuladas o sin prebióticos. En todos los casos, el tiempo de incubación influyó en la supervivencia de las cepas.

The rational choice and design of biomaterials for biomedical applications is crucial for successful in vitro and in vivo strategies, ultimately dictating their performance and potential clinical applications. Alginate, a marine-derived polysaccharide obtained from seaweeds, is one of the most widely used polymers in the biomedical field, particularly to build three dimensional (3D) systems for in vitro culture and in vivo delivery of cells. Despite their biocompatibility, alginate hydrogels often require modifications to improve their biological activity, namely via inclusion of mammalian cell-interactive domains and fine-tuning of mechanical properties. These modifications enable the addition of new features for greater versatility and control over alginate-based systems, extending the plethora of applications and procedures where they can be used. Additionally, hybrid systems based on alginate combination with other components can also be explored to improve the mimicry of extracellular microenvironments and their dynamics. This review provides an overview on alginate properties and current clinical applications, along with different strategies that have been reported to improve alginate hydrogels performance as 3D matrices and 4D dynamic systems. Project ANGIONICHE (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028744 and PTDC/BTMMAT/28744/2017), doctoral grant SFRH/BD/129855/2017 (MN), and research position IF/00296/2015 (CB).