Mordovia State University scientists. NP Ogareva developed a method for producing capsules that deliver drugs to the desired part of the gastrointestinal tract, store them and release them at a certain rate. This was reported to socialbites.ca by the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
Today, the problem of getting probiotics to their “destination” is acute, as some may die as they pass through the acidic environment of the stomach. To solve this situation, it provides the conclusion of probiotics in capsules. Thus, microorganisms entering the intestines are completely released from the membrane and the drug acts more efficiently.
“The capsules contain both polysaccharide components – bacterial cellulose, alginate, chitosan and protein – gelatin. The ratio of the components can be varied to allow targeted delivery of the drug. In the research phase, we simulated the passage of the capsule through the gastrointestinal tract. Probably, the capsule stays in the stomach for 2-4 hours, and only then passes into the intestines, where the medicinal substance is gradually released, ”says Natalia Nazarova, a candidate of biological sciences, teacher of the Department of Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Bioengineering.
According to the university rector Dmitry Glushko, this development allows to expand the range of capsules.
“Now there are no known direct analogues of this work, and indirect ones have a number of disadvantages – instability in an acidic environment, susceptibility to the presence of chelating substances in the environment that violate the integrity of the shell, lack of control. Dmitry Glushko noted the release of the substance, which proves the promise and importance of the project of researchers of our university.
Most often, such drugs are prescribed for AAD, which is antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Patients receiving injectable antibiotics in hospitals almost always suffer from an imbalance in the flora. This is expressed in pain, bloating, severe diarrhea, the intestines fail, and the food taken is almost not absorbed. But if the doctor prescribes the drug from the first day of treatment, then unpleasant symptoms will not appear. Probiotics can also be taken in the form of antibiotics in tablet form.
Earlier Mordovian scholars developed An inhalation mask for effective drug delivery to the respiratory tract of calves in the treatment and prevention of infections.