Feminine hygiene devices coated with electrospun Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1332-loaded polymer nanofibres

Abstract A novel strategy for preventing urogenital tract infections is the incorporation of beneficial strains into the design of vaginal probiotic products. This study aimed to incorporate Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1332-nanofibres on feminine hygiene devices (tampons and pantyliners) and textile substrate using different electrospinning setups. The use of agitation in the electrospinning collector system proved to be an optimal strategy for coating tampons. Moreover, the setup with an uniaxial translational nozzle and a conventional collector system was appropriate for coating pantyliners and textile substrates. The incorporation of lactobacilli immobilised in nanofibres onto the devices was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, yielding measurements similar to those of non-immobilised cells (length ∼2,118 nm; width ∼741 nm). The viable cell number of lactobacilli was around 10 7 -10 8 cfu/tampon, pantyliner, or gr textile substrate and was maintained after one-year of storage under refrigeration conditions. L. rhamnosus CRL1332 immobilised nanofibres preserved its acidifying capability. The samples demonstrated chemical and thermal stability over time under refrigerated and vacuum-packed conditions. Different electrospinning systems proved to be novel and suitable for designing functional vaginal products with viable L. rhamnosus CRL1332 through simple and effective steps. These lactobacilli-coated devices could serve as effective vaginal probiotic delivery systems, promoting the reconstitution of the vaginal microbiota and improving feminine hygiene and health.