A team of scientists from Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU) in Russia has developed a novel biopolymer system designed to significantly enhance the effectiveness of feed probiotics. The researchers say the new material not only protects beneficial bacteria as they pass through the digestive tract, but also actively supports their growth once they reach the intestine.
Probiotics and prebiotics are widely used in modern livestock production to improve gut health, strengthen immunity and enhance feed conversion rates. However, their practical efficiency is often limited. A substantial share of beneficial microorganisms is destroyed in the highly acidic environment of the stomach before reaching the intestine, where they are meant to colonise and exert their positive effects.
Over the years, scientists have attempted to address this problem using various protective technologies, including microencapsulation, specialised biopolymer coatings and freeze-drying techniques. These approaches are designed to shield bacteria from gastric acid and ensure their controlled release in the intestine. While such methods have improved survival rates, researchers say further progress is needed to maximise probiotic performance under commercial farming conditions.
Dual action mechanism
The NSTU team believes its new development offers a significant step forward. According to Victoria Bets, project leader and director of the Biopolymer Technologies Research centre at NSTU, the innovation is based on a polymer gel similar to a material previously created by the group to preserve brewer’s yeast.
“We are offering a polymer-based gel that not only allows synbiotics to safely pass through the stomach and enter the intestines, but also acts as a substrate — a nutrient medium for beneficial bacteria,” – Victoria Bets, project leader and director of the Biopolymer Technologies Research centre at NSTU
Unlike conventional protective coatings that serve primarily as passive barriers, the new gel performs a dual function. It shields probiotic microorganisms from acidic damage and, at the same time, creates favourable conditions for their proliferation in the gut. This combined effect could potentially increase colonisation efficiency and prolong the activity of probiotic strains.
Encouraging early results
Initial laboratory trials have produced promising results. Experiments conducted on germ-free mice demonstrated that the polymer gel significantly increased the number of viable bacteria detected in the animals’ intestines compared to unprotected probiotic formulations.
“We achieved controlled delivery of probiotic components to target sections of the intestine and demonstrated the full effectiveness of this development as a carrier of active components,” Bets noted.
Following these results, the team secured support from the Russian Science Foundation. The funding will enable researchers to develop a more complex formulation incorporating bacteria alongside additional excipients, and to conduct trials on different types of farm animals.
According to Bets, the ultimate goal is to create a feed additive offering a comprehensive approach to gut health management, with a pronounced and measurable therapeutic effect in livestock production.
