Association of Lactobacillus crispatus with fructo-oligosaccharides and ascorbic acid in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose vaginal insert. (20th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vitali, Beatrice; Abruzzo, Angela; Parolin, Carola; Palomino, Rogers Alberto Ñahui; Dalena, Francesco; Bigucci, Federica; Cerchiara, Teresa; Luppi, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 136(2016)
• Page Start: 1161
• Page End: 1169
• Publication Date: 2016-01-20
• Subjects: Lactobacillus crispatus -- Fructo-oligosaccharide -- Ascorbic acid -- In situ gelling inserts -- Mucoadhesion -- Vaginal release; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.10.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Vaginal freeze-dried inserts based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose for local delivery of probiotics. Effect of different excipients on Lactobacillus crispatus survival. Antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus crispatus formulated within the vaginal insert. Abstract: The aim of this work was to develop a synbiotic vaginal insert containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus crispatus BC5, the prebiotic substrate fructo-oligosaccharide and the antioxidant agent ascorbic acid, for the prophylaxis and therapy of vaginal infections. Mucoadhesive in situ gelling vaginal inserts based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were prepared by freeze-drying, stored at +2–8 °C for 90 days and characterized in terms of technological and functional properties. Complete survival of L. crispatus BC5 was found immediately after insert preparation (96.08%) as well as after 90 days of storage (95.82%) in the vaginal inserts containing fructo-oligosaccharide, ascorbic acid and skimmed milk. Synbiotic inserts showed improved mucoadhesion ability (from three- to five-fold) with respect to a standard formulation based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose alone. Moreover, inserts allowed to modulate lactobacilli release in virtue of the different amounts of fructo-oligosaccharide. Finally, antimicrobial activity was exerted by L. crispatus BC5 released from the vaginal formulation.