Construction of a marine-derived probiotic delivery system based on Pickering emulsion technology: Preparation, characterization, and its therapeutic effects on irritable bowel syndrome

Lacticaseibacillus casei DS31, as a marine probiotic isolated from the gut of Pseudosciaena crocea , has great potential in the adjuvant treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. In this study, microcapsules were prepared using Pickering emulsion embedding technology to enhance the stability and survival of Lacticaseibacillus casei DS31 in the gastrointestinal environment. The results demonstrated that the microcapsules provided effective protection for the strain, suppress the inflammatory response by downregulating inflammatory and brain-gut axis-related factors, and reduce inflammatory cell infiltration. Histopathological analysis revealed that the probiotic and microcapsule interventions significantly mitigated intestinal low-grade inflammation, repaired intestinal epithelial barrier damage, and upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins (Claudin-1, ZO-1) and the water channel protein AQP3. Lacticaseibacillus casei DS31 modulated the gut microbiota composition and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. In conclusion, Lacticaseibacillus casei DS31 shows promise as a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of IBS. • Exploitation of probiotic resources of marine origin. • Treatment of probiotics in the field of IBS. • Innovative Pickering emulsion technology for embedding bacteria. • Probiotics regulate the intestinal flora and enhance the intestinal barrier.