Stability in dynamic culture and in relevant culture media

Gut³Beads have been tested for stability in a pancreatin solution as well as in a faecal matter suspension.

Different formulations of Gut³Beads, aimed at providing differential mucin release rates were tested for their stability by having them in agitation in pancreatin solution. Despite showing differential swelling and degradation profiles, all of them sustained pancreatin degradation for up to 6 hours. These results make the beads suitable to be employed as nutrient additives for the growth of microbiota communities under simulated gastrointestinal environments.

Gut³Beads suspended in feacal matter under constant agitation, sustained up to 48 hours culturing times without losing their shape. However, a reduction in the beads mass of more than 20% suggests that the beads are releasing mucin to the culture medium and promoting the vitality of the bacteria within.

The conformation of Gut³Beads allows the expression of different oxygen profiles that are related to the rate of mucin release and their affinity for anaerobe bacteria to penetrate the substrate. This profile is responsive to the external environment as well as to the exposure time, but it keeps the inner anaerobic region despite the exposure time.