Bacteria-Loaded Gastro-Retention Oral Delivery System for Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is harmful to human health, and many strategies have been developed to retard this harm through protecting liver or activating relative enzymes. In this study, a new strategy of decreasing the alcohol absorption directly depending on the dealcoholization by the bacteria in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract was reported. To realize this, a bacteria-loaded gastro-retention oral delivery system with pore structure was constructed through emulsification/internal gelation, which could relieve acute alcohol intoxication in mice successfully. It was found that this bacteria-loaded system kept the above 30% suspension ratio in the simulated gastric fluid for 4 min, displayed good protection effect for the bacteria, and decreased the alcohol concentration from 50 to 30% below within 24 h in vitro. The in vivo imaging results demonstrated that it remained in the upper GI tract until 24 h and reduced 41.9% alcohol absorption. The mice with oral administration of the bacteria-loaded system were found with normal gait, smooth coat, and less liver damage. Although the intestinal flora distribution was influenced slightly during the oral administration, it could restore to normal levels only one day after stopping oral administration quickly, suggesting good biosafety. In conclusion, these results revealed that the bacteria-loaded gastro-retention oral delivery system might intake alcohol molecules rapidly and has huge potential in the treatment of alcohol abuse.

Automated summary

This study reported a new strategy to decrease alcohol absorption by using bacteria in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which could relieve acute alcohol intoxication. A bacteria-loaded gastro-retention oral delivery system was constructed, which maintained a suspension ratio of over 30% in simulated gastric fluid for 4 minutes and decreased the alcohol concentration in vitro. In vivo imaging results showed that the system remained in the upper GI tract for 24 hours and reduced alcohol absorption by 41.9%. Mice administered with the system showed normal gait, smooth coat, and less liver damage. The study concluded that the bacteria-loaded gastro-retention oral delivery system has the potential in the treatment of alcohol abuse.