journal article·2026-05

Bioengineered Probiotic‐Prebiotic Hierarchical Microspheres With pH‐Responsive Architecture Reprogram Immunometabolism in Obesity‐Related Disorders

Jiangbangrui Chu, Xiaofan Xu, Yurui Xu, Kefan Hu, Hon Fai Chan, Weiwei Chen, King‐ho Cheung, Xinghai Ning, Ken Kin Lam Yung

Small· Volume 22· Issue 26
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Abstract

ABSTRACT Obesity is increasingly recognized as a chronic immunometabolic disorder driven by dysregulated gut‐adipose communication and microbiota imbalance. Here, we present bioengineered pH‐responsive probiotic‐prebiotic hierarchical microspheres (MicroSym) that coordinate localized microbial restoration with systemic immune reprogramming to treat obesity‐related disorders. MicroSym is fabricated via microfluidic‐assisted phase separation coupled with electrostatic spraying, embedding probiotic bacteria within a lotus‐derived prebiotic matrix to form a protective yet responsive microenvironment that preserves viability during gastric transit. At intestinal pH, the hierarchical architecture selectively disassembles to release probiotics and prebiotic substrates, fostering beneficial colonization and metabolite production. This symbiotic modulation reshapes the gut immune landscape, suppresses proinflammatory macrophage polarization, and restores adipose tissue homeostasis. In diet‐induced obese mice, oral treatment with MicroSym remodels the gut microbiota, improves glucose tolerance, reduces lipid accumulation, and normalizes cytokine profiles without overt toxicity. Transcriptomic profiling and microbiome analyses further validate comprehensive systemic immunometabolic benefits. Collectively, this work establishes a biofabricated symbiotic microsphere platform for controlling microbiota‐immune‐metabolic crosstalk and offers a translatable therapeutic strategy for obesity‐associated immunometabolic disease.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Gut microbiota and health · 3D Printing in Biomedical Research · Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Applied Science School of Science and Technology Hong Kong Metropolitan University Hong Kong SAR China

School of Sports Medicine Wuhan Sports University Wuhan China

National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Nanjing University Nanjing China

Department of Biology Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong SAR China

School of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Medicine Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China

Division of Teaching and Research School of Chinese Medicine Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong SAR China

Department of Science and Environmental Studies The Education University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · National Key Research and Development Program of China · Joint Research Fund for Overseas Chinese Scholars and Scholars in Hong Kong and Macao

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