LAUSR

Recent studies in our laboratories have shown promising effects of bile acids in ➀ drug encapsulation for oral targeted delivery (via capsule stabilization) particularly when encapsulated with Eudragit NM30D® and ➁ viable-cell encapsulation and delivery (via supporting cell viability and biological activities, postencapsulation). Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate applications of bile acid-Eudragit NM30D® capsules in viable-cell encapsulation ready for delivery. Mouse-cloned pancreatic β-cell line was cultured and cells encapsulated using bile acid-Eudragit NM30D® capsules, and capsules’ images, viability, inflammation, and bioenergetics of encapsulated cells assessed. The capsules’ thermal and chemical stability assays were also assessed to ascertain an association between capsules’ stability and cellular biological activities. Bile acid-Eudragit NM30D® capsules showed improved cell viability (e.g., F1 < F2 & F8; p < 0.05), insulin, inflammatory profile, and bioenergetics as well as thermal and chemical stability, compared with control. These effects were formulation-dependent and suggest, overall, that changes in ratios of bile acids to Eudragit NM30D® can change the microenvironment of the capsules and subsequent cellular biological activities.