Over the past century, drastic lifestyle changes have caused disbalanced gut microbiota, which has been linked to various health conditions and noncommunicable diseases. Probiotics are a promising route for restoring a healthy gut microbiome, but their inherent sensitivity towards oxygen-, water-, heat and/or gastric acid greatly hampers their widespread application in disease prevention and treatment programs. iNSIGHT solves this longstanding challenge by realizing precision probiotics via a novel and disruptive microencapsulation approach.
We set ourselves the goal to investigate and develop a tunable microcapsule formulation and scalable encapsulation process for the protection and targeted post-stomach delivery of sensitive probiotic formulations. Specifically, we will work on unique bi-gel-based microencapsulation formulations that are expected to provide unsurpassed protection to probiotics. To study the structural breakdown of capsules and thereby the controlled release of probiotics, we will develop and test a novel gut-on-a-chip microfluidic device. To obtain more in-depth knowledge as well as prepare for high-throughput screenings, we incorporate machine learning for i) automated investigation of digestion kinetics under personalizable conditions and ii) automated in-line identification, evaluation, and adjustment of microcapsule synthesis. As a proof of concept, we will leverage our encapsulation and screening platforms to protect a sensitive next-generation strain and make our precision probiotics formulation available to patients via personalized treatment of a patient cohort under pharmacy legislation.
iNSIGHT forms the basis for protection and delivery of sensitive probiotic ingredients, and thereby contributes to the prevention, alleviation, and/or treatment of myriad health conditions related to unhealthy gut microbiota.
The project aims to develop probiotics that survive harsh conditions before the gut and release exactly where they are needed. We are building two tools to achieve this: (i) a microfluidic screening platform enabling automated time-resolved digestion and fermentation analysis under tunable (i.e. personalizable) conditions; and (ii) an auto-tunable and scalable microencapsulation platform for protection and targeted delivery of sensitive probiotics and demonstrate its value for oral administration of next-generation probiotics formulations.
To achieve the goals, we work towards the following six concrete objectives:
1. Develop bi-gel microcapsules with independently tunable oleogel core and hydrogel shell formulations for optimized protection and targeted post-stomach release of probiotics.
2. Develop a microfluidic flow cell (‘on-chip’) for time-resolved study of structural disintegration and release from bi-gels during in vitro digestion and fermentation.
3. Develop a tunable, scalable, and standardized microencapsulation system that can generate probiotics-laden bi-gel microcapsules with controlled size and composition.
4. Develop and integrate reinforced machine learning and computer vision to enable automated screening and microencapsulation.
5. Proof the concept of precision probiotics in vitro and validate in vivo.
Project pathway to impact
iNSIGHT tackles a major public health issue: chronic conditions affecting over half of Europeans, which may often be linked to gut microbiome imbalance. The project develops a new microencapsulation platform that protects fragile probiotic strains from environmental and digestive stress, enabling next‑generation, precision probiotics tailored to individual needs. These formulations can be delivered through powders or functional foods, making them accessible even in hot climates or regions without cold‑chain infrastructure. Using biodegradable, vegan materials also supports sustainability and consumer trust.
Economically, iNSIGHT fits a fast‑growing probiotic market and opens new opportunities for strain developers, food producers, and healthcare providers by enabling products that were previously not viable. Consortium partners can expand their portfolios, offer new services, and improve access to personalized microbiome therapies. If validated at TRL 3–4, iNSIGHT will provide a strong demonstration case, accelerating innovation and co‑development of precision probiotics across Europe and beyond.
