A single-cell nanocoating of probiotics for enhanced amelioration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

The gut microbiota is crucial for immune regulation and homeostasis. While live bacteria (probiotics) are promising therapeutics for gut disorders, concurrent antibiotic use compromises their efficacy due to antibiotic susceptibility. The authors demonstrate a single-cell coating of tannic acid and ferric ions (“nanoarmor”) that protects bacteria from antibiotics. This nanoarmor shields Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria against six clinically relevant antibiotics by adsorbing antibiotic molecules via multiple interactions. Armored probiotics colonized the gastrointestinal tract of levofloxacin-treated rats, significantly reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and improving pre-inflammatory symptoms. This strategy provides a robust platform to enhance the potency of therapeutic bacteria during antibiotic treatment and mitigate antibiotic-induced adverse effects in the GI tract.