# Advances in Functional Foods: Using Double Emulsion Gels to Deliver CBD and Probiotics and to Modulate Human Gut Microbial Communities

## TL;DR

This study explores a new double emulsion gel system to deliver CBD and probiotics, which can influence gut bacteria and support intestinal health.

## Contribution

The novel double emulsion gel system effectively delivers CBD and probiotics while modulating gut microbial composition and activity.

## Key findings

- CBD and L. plantarum were effectively delivered and released by the double emulsion gel system.
- The treatment increased beneficial bacteria like Lachnospiraceae and Clostridiaceae and boosted butyrate and lactate production.
- Microbial diversity in the mucin layer increased temporarily, while diversity in the gut lumen decreased.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study examines the application of the novel double emulsion gel system for the delivery and release of encapsulated cannabidiol (CBD) and the probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 24624. Methods: During a six-week experimental period comprising stabilization, treatment, and wash-out phases, the dynamic Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) model was employed to assess a system. The evaluation focused on the delivery of CBD and probiotics, as well as the system’s effects on microbial composition, diversity, and metabolic activity throughout the digestion process using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and digital PCR methods. Results: Microbial community analysis revealed significant shifts in both mucosal and luminal microbiota following supplementation. The treatment increased beneficial bacterial families such as Lachnospiraceae and Clostridiaceae, demonstrated effective delivery, release, and persistence of the probiotic L. plantarum, as well as enhanced butyrate and lactate production. Diversity analyses highlighted a transient rise in alpha diversity within the mucin layer and a decrease in the lumen, with significant changes in beta diversity across experimental phases. Conclusions: Findings suggest that double emulsion gel can be employed for the delivery of probiotics and CBD to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, an innovative CBD-probiotic formulation can modulate gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity, suggesting its potential as a functional food innovation for intestinal health. However, the results are based on an in vitro model, which lacks the complexity of the human host environment, and further clinical studies are necessary to confirm the biological relevance and therapeutic potential of such delivery systems for gastrointestinal health.