Core-shell commensal biocapsules for in situ gut microbiome engineering
Restricted (Penn State Only)
Author:
Kohli, Sonika
Area of Honors:
Biomedical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Scott H Medina, Thesis Supervisor Justin Lee Brown, Thesis Honors Advisor Pak Kin Wong, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
gut microbiome biomaterial microbiome engineering ecological niche commensal bacteria bacterial infection gut health
Abstract:
The human microbiome is home to diverse bacteria that are critical in maintaining normal function and human health. It is primarily shaped by environmental factors, such as stress, diet, and geographical location. An unbalanced microbiome due to disease or prolonged antibiotic use can have significant, long-term health impacts. There is a need for a therapeutic intervention that can meaningfully re-engineer the microbiome in response to imbalances. In this work, the fabrication and efficacy of peptide-carbohydrate capsules will be discussed. These biocapsules are loaded with commensal bacteria and have an antimicrobial coating which show promise in being able to inhibit local pathogenic growth while precisely releasing commensal bacteria in the GI tract. This biomaterial has the potential to become a powerful tool in supporting the diverse human microbiome and sets the groundwork for future development of this biome-engineering tool which can successfully create an ecological niche for delivered commensal bacteria to integrate into the microbiome.
