Advances in Edible Probiotic Encapsulation and Oral Delivery Technologies for Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a complex inflammatory condition in which traditional treatments fail to address the underlying microbial imbalances and often induce systemic toxicity. Probiotic therapy holds significant promise for restoring intestinal homeostasis; however, the successful oral delivery of viable bacteria to the colon remains a major challenge owing to the destructive gastric environment. Encapsulated probiotics can effectively alleviate this problem. However, we still urgently need research on encapsulated probiotics for the treatment of IBD from the perspectives of mechanism of action, encapsulation materials and delivery systems. This review offers a systematic overview of the current state-of-the-art in edible probiotic encapsulation technologies. We first elucidate the intricate mechanisms by which probiotics and their metabolites (postbiotics) exert therapeutic effects, including competitive exclusion of pathogens, reinforcement of the mucus layer, and metabolic regulation. Subsequently, we present an analysis of advanced delivery systems, categorizing them into natural polymer materials, lipid composite materials, and nanozyme-probiotic composites. We detail the preparation processes, structure-function relationships, and in vivo performance of these systems, with particular emphasis on the encapsulation materials and delivery systems and discuss several novel delivery technologies. Finally, we confront the current challenges in industrial scalability, storage stability, and regulatory standardization. By integrating material science with microbiology, this review provides a broad overview of probiotic-based strategies and emerging oral delivery systems for IBD, bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and practical application, paving the way for next-generation IBD therapeutics.