Plant Tissue Probiotic Delivery for Gut Viability Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in maintaining the viability and effective delivery of probiotic bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract, as they are susceptible to harsh environmental conditions during oral administration, leading to reduced efficacy in modulating the gut microbiome.

Innovation Solution

The use of edible plant parts enriched with probiotic bacteria, which are habituated to colonize plant tissues, providing a delivery vehicle that protects the bacteria from unfavorable conditions and ensures their viability, combined with enteric coatings for controlled release in the intestine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If probiotic bacteria are administered orally, then they can reach the gastrointestinal tract to modulate the gut microbiome, but they are susceptible to harsh environmental conditions during oral administration which reduces their viability and efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviability of probiotic bacteriaVSAvoidharsh environmental conditions during oral administration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses plant tissue as an intermediary carrier to protect probiotic bacteria during oral administration. The plant tissue serves as a biocompatible matrix that shields the bacteria from harsh gastrointestinal conditions while facilitating their delivery to the target site in the gastrointestinal tract.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs enteric coating to change the physical and chemical parameters of the delivery system. The coating modifies the release characteristics of the probiotic bacteria, protecting them from acidic stomach conditions and enabling controlled release in the more favorable environment of the intestine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If probiotic bacteria are delivered orally, then they can colonize the gastrointestinal tract and provide health benefits, but their susceptibility to harsh conditions leads to reduced efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficacy in modulating gut microbiomeVSAvoidharsh environmental conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Plant tissue acts as a protective intermediary that maintains probiotic bacteria viability through the gastrointestinal tract. This natural carrier system provides a biocompatible environment that protects against harmful conditions while facilitating effective delivery to the gut microbiome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Enteric coating provides a flexible protective shell that shields probiotic bacteria from harsh stomach acid and enables controlled release in the intestine. This thin film barrier maintains bacterial viability and ensures effective colonization of the gastrointestinal tract.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If plant tissue is used as a delivery vehicle for probiotic bacteria, then protection from unfavorable conditions is provided, but additional steps are required to habituate bacteria to colonize plant tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of bacteria from unfavorable conditionsVSAvoidprocess complexity for habituating bacteria

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary selection and habituation processes to identify probiotic bacteria strains that can successfully colonize plant tissue. This pre-screening and adaptation work is performed during the development phase, allowing the manufacturing process to proceed with pre-validated bacterial strains that naturally colonize the plant carrier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If enteric coatings are applied for controlled release, then probiotic bacteria reach the intestine effectively, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrolled release in the intestineVSAvoidcomplexity of enteric coating application

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Enteric coating modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the plant tissue delivery system. The coating changes the pH-responsive release characteristics, allowing the probiotic bacteria to be protected in the stomach and released in the intestine where conditions are more favorable for bacterial survival and colonization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260000103A1Edible plant parts enriched with probiotic bacteria

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 YISSUM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to edible plant parts or tissues comprising probiotic bacteria and use thereof for oral delivery of the probiotic bacteria to an organism and enriching and/or improving the organism gastrointestinal tract microbiome. The present invention further relates to methods for selecting and/or producing probiotic bacteria capable of colonizing a plant tissue.