REVIEW article
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Nanobiotechnology
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1706245
This article is part of the Research TopicAdvanced Nanocarrier Systems: Engineering Microcapsules and Exosomes for Targeted Delivery of Bioactive CompoundsView all articles
Protein-based micro-and nano-transporters for gut microbiota modulators: Advances in delivery strategies and gut health benefits
Provisionally accepted- 1Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- 2University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- 3Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
- 4Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
- 5Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
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Human gut microbiota (GM) is essential for gut health, and its dysbiosis is associated with diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and cancers. Natural GM modulators, including probiotics, bioactive phytochemicals, and peptides, have shown great potential in restoring microbial balance. However, their effectiveness is limited by stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery to the gut. Protein-based micro-and nano-transporters have recently emerged as innovative platforms capable of overcoming these delivery barriers and improving the therapeutic performance of natural GM modulators. Here, we critically review the design strategies, functional performance, and therapeutic outcomes of various protein-based carriers, including composite hydrogels, stimuli-responsive microgels, targeted nanocomplexes, mucoadhesive microcapsules, and electrospun nanofibers. Furthermore, we discuss how these advanced systems ameliorate gut dysbiosis, modulate immune responses, enhance intestinal barrier integrity, and promote beneficial microbial growth. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives for clinical translation are outlined. Overall, this review aims to provide a mechanistic and practical foundation for the development of next-generation protein-based transporters for microbiota-targeted therapies.
Keywords: Gut Microbiota, gut disorders, Probiotics, Bioactive phytochemicals, Protein-based transporters
Received: 16 Sep 2025; Accepted: 02 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Rana, Saifullah, Saeid, Kamal, Gao and Gao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xiangjing Gao, xjgao@cdc.zj.cn
Xiangwei Gao, xiangweigao@zju.edu.cn
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.