Probiotic encapsulation strategies for controlled intestinal delivery and microbiome dysbiosis therapy

Probiotics have garnered significant interest due to their diverse and vital roles in promoting intestinal health. However, several challenges continue to impede their clinical efficacy, including the preservation of bioactivity during oral administration, effective targeting of intestinal lesions, modulation of the gut microenvironment, and extension of colonization time. This review offers a comprehensive overview of biomaterial-based encapsulation strategies for targeted probiotic delivery to the intestine. Particular attention is given to the factors that govern the selection of probiotic strains and to the role of microbial interactions in shaping the design of oral delivery systems. Furthermore, we highlight the critical challenges associated with oral delivery, summarize the functional materials and their underlying mechanisms, and provide a comparative analysis of their strengths and limitations. Key factors influencing probiotic strain selection and encapsulation methods are examined in detail. The review also highlights major gastrointestinal barriers—such as variable pH, digestive enzymes, reactive oxygen species (ROS), colonization resistance, rapid transit time, and mucus layer degradation—and outlines corresponding mitigation strategies. Recent progress in targeted delivery systems and immune modulation enabled by encapsulated probiotics is discussed, along with a survey of current therapeutic applications. Finally, emerging trends and ongoing challenges in the field are explored, emphasizing the promising potential of encapsulated probiotic systems in restoring microbiome homeostasis and treating dysbiosis-related disorders.