Novel probiotic-bound oxidized Bletilla striata polysaccharide-chitosan composite hydrogel.

As a new strategy for wound management, probiotics are highly sensitive to the external environment during use. In this study, an attempt is made to apply oxidized Bletilla striata polysaccharide (OBSP) hydrogel as a delivery system to put up a physical barrier to probiotics. Bletilla striata, as a famous traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for over 1500 years to promote wound healing. Firstly, probiotic-bound OBSP-Chitosan composite hydrogel (OBSP-CS-LP hydrogel) was prepared by a simple and environmentally friendly approach. Subsequently, the SEM image, swelling and rheological properties of the OBSP-CS-LP hydrogel were investigated. Notably, composite probiotics to wounds are an attractive novel intervention that significantly improves the antibacterial properties of the hydrogel and avoids the pitfalls of many antibiotic therapies. Furthermore, the full-thickness skin defect model in vivo indicated an outstanding wound healing efficacy. Therefore, OBSP-CS-LP hydrogel could be applied as a promising dressing in the wound healing.

Development and Characterization of PCL Electrospun Membrane-Coated Bletilla striata Polysaccharide-Based Gastroretentive Drug Delivery System.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP, a natural glucomannan material) for the development of a gastroretentive drug delivery system for the first time. Novel BSP-based porous wafer was prepared for levofloxacin hydrochloride (LFH) delivery by combining floating, swelling, and mucoadhesion mechanisms. The influences of BSP and ethyl cellulose (EC) on drug release and mucoadhesive strength were studied by 32 factorial design. The optimized matrix was coated with polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun membrane by electrospinning and heat treatment technology. The optimized formula (F6, coated) exhibited Q4 h of 41.20 ± 1.90%, Q8 h of 76.49 ± 1.69%, and mucoadhesive strength of 86.11 ± 1.33 gf, and its drug release profile most closely resembled the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with anomalous diffusion driving mechanism. F6 (coated) also presented excellent buoyancy, preferred swelling characteristic due to the porous structure formed by freeze-drying. Meanwhile, the internal morphology, physical state, drug-excipient compatibility, and thermal behavior were recorded. The negligible cytotoxicity of F6 (coated) was observed in human gastric epithelial cell cultures. In the in vitro antimicrobial experiment, the prepared wafer exhibited obvious bacterial inhibition zone, and due to its longer gastric retention, the wafer also performed a more effective Helicobacter pylori clearance than free LFH in vivo. Graphical abstract.

Design of a randomized trial to determine the optimum protein intake to preserve lean body mass and to optimize response to a promyogenic anabolic agent in older men with physical functional limitation.

The dietary protein allowance for older men to maintain lean body mass and muscle strength and to accrue optimal anabolic responses to promyogenic stimuli is poorly characterized. The OPTIMEN trial was designed to assess in older men with moderate physical dysfunction and insufficient habitual protein intake (