The current perspective presents an outlook on developing gut-like bioreactors with immobilized probiotic bacteria using cellulose hydrogels. The innovative concept of using hydrogels to simulate the human gut environment by generating and maintaining pH and oxygen gradients in the gut-like bioreactors is discussed. Fundamentally, this approach presents novel methods of production as well as delivery of multiple strains of probiotics using bioreactors. The relevant existing synthesis methods of cellulose hydrogels are discussed for producing porous hydrogels. Harvesting methods of multiple strains are discussed in the context of encapsulation of probiotic bacteria immobilized on cellulose hydrogels. Furthermore, we also discuss recent advances in using cellulose hydrogels for encapsulation of probiotic bacteria. This perspective also highlights the mechanism of probiotic protection by cellulose hydrogels. Such novel gut-like hydrogel bioreactors will have the potential to simulate the human gut ecosystem in the laboratory and stimulate new research on gut microbiota.
Keywords: biotherapeutics; cellulose hydrogels; encapsulation; gut microbiota; hydrogel bioreactors; probiotic bacteria.