Ph-responsive macromolecular complexes for probiotic protection
Innovative PEO-PAA complexes provide enteric coatings for probiotics, safeguarding them from acidic environments in beverages and the stomach, and releasing them in neutral/basic conditions.
Overview
This breakthrough solution leverages pH-responsive macromolecular complexes to protect probiotics in acidic environments. Utilizing FDA-approved poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), these complexes form a protective enteric coating around probiotics when exposed to low pH levels. This technology is particularly beneficial for incorporating probiotics into acidic beverages and ensuring their survival through the acidic conditions of the stomach. The complexes dissolve in neutral or basic environments, such as the intestines, allowing for the release of probiotics in an optimal setting.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Materials used: FDA-approved PEO-PAA block copolymers.
- Protective mechanism: At low pH, these copolymers condense onto probiotics to form a protective coating.
- Release mechanism: The coating dissolves in neutral/basic pH, releasing probiotics where they can be most beneficial.
- Proven performance: Prior studies have shown successful encapsulation and release of small molecule cargo in similar conditions.
- Research methods: Characterization by optical/electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and viability assays to ensure probiotic stability and functionality.
Technology readiness level
The development is currently at Technology Readiness Level 3, indicating experimental proof of concept. Future steps include scaling up encapsulation processes and further validating probiotic viability and stability through advanced testing and modeling techniques.
About Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a large private research university in Provo, Utah, with an undergraduate-focused profile and selective graduate programs. Corporate partners engage through sponsored research, student capstone design programs, and internship pipelines that deliver hands-on solutions and hiring pathways. Proximity to the Wasatch Front’s growing technology corridor enables close collaboration, on-site visits, and year‑round recruiting, while campus prototyping shops and test laboratories support rapid iteration. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. A dedicated technology transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation, and standard agreements streamline industry collaboration.
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