Polygonatum polysaccharide microspheres encapsulated living Clostridium butyricum for mucosal barrier repair and immune regulation

A collaborative intervention strategy based on probiotics represents a promising therapeutic approach against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, enhancing probiotic efficacy within the IBD microenvironment while minimizing side effects remains a critical challenge. Polygonatum polysaccharide (PP), a natural plant-derived bioactive polymer, has attracted significant attention due to its ability to regulate oxidative and inflammatory stress with a favorable safety profile. Herein, PP was incorporated into calcium-alginate microgels (Mgel), resulting in enhanced mechanical strength and thermal stability. Compared to conventional calcium-alginate microgels, the PP-loaded microgels exhibited improved performance in oral delivery. In addition, PP functions as a promising microenvironmental modulator, exhibiting broad-spectrum antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic properties. The microgel system provides a versatile platform for probiotic oral delivery, contributing to the reshaping of the IBD microenvironment by enhancing the efficacy of Clostridium butyricum JHP6 and increasing beneficial metabolite levels in colitis. Collectively, naturally derived polysaccharide-based microspheres encapsulating probiotics offer an effective strategy to modulate the IBD microenvironment and enhance probiotic efficacy, thereby representing a collaborative intervention approach for IBD.