Microencapsulation of bacteriophages in pH-responsive polymers for colon-specific delivery using glass microfluidic devices

Video captured shots of core-shell micro-droplet generation encapculating bacteriophages in a pH responsive polymer

The Gram positive spore-forming bacterium Clostridium difficile is a dangerous hospital acquired pathogen that is the dominant causal agent of bacterial diarrhoea in hospitals, causing C. difficile Infection (CDI). It inflames the colonic epithelium causing membranous colitis and death in about 10% of cases affecting tens of thousands of people in the EU annually and resulting in a healthcare burden of approximately €3 billion. Treatment is difficult and there are often problems with relapses. Through our collaboration with Professor Martha Clokie (Leicester University) we have access to a unique resource of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are highly specific and infect host C. difficile without affecting the surrounding microflora in the colon typical of antibiotic treatment. Previous in vitro and in vivo work has established the potential of these phages to selectively target clinical strains of C. difficile. We are therefore in a unique position to investigate how we can exploit bacteriophages to reduce C. difficile infection rates. This project aims to develop oral phage encapsulated vehicles that can enhance colon-targeted delivery of bacteriophages. An efficient colon targeting vehicle would increase bacteriophage availability to colonic sites, reduce and/or eliminate premature release in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract and, also, simultaneously control release of bacteriophages in the colon using a pH responsive trigger (~ pH 7-8) to reduce CDI in the patient.

Staff: D J Malik, G Vladisavljevic, G Vinner (Research Student), M Clokie (Leicester)