Emulsifier-modified sunflower oil-sunflower wax oleogel as growth modulator of probiotics

The efficiency of oleogel as an oral delivery vehicle of probiotics depends on the chemical composition and gelator used. However, the gelators, which are surfactant in nature often interact with the probiotics and alter the therapeutic outcome. Keeping this perspective in mind, here we have developed oleogel of sunflower oil containing 5% (w/w) of sunflower wax and different emulsifiers, namely Span80 (S), Tween 80(T), stearyl alcohol (SA), and Span60 (SP), and checked their influence on probiotics in-vitro. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, it was found that adding different emulsifiers changed the length and arrangement of the gelator network. SA and SP-modified oleogels, used at a concentration of 0.05% (w/v), demonstrated enhanced growth and metabolic activity of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, which was employed as a model probiotic. Furthermore, the mucin adhesion test and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the negligible effect of those oleogels on the activity and morphology of the probiotic, respectively. When the secretome of such probiotics was applied to the colonic cell line, no negative effects were seen. This study implied that sunflower oil-sunflower wax oleogels modified using different emulsifiers can modulate probiotic growth. © 2025