Various disorders closely linked to gut dysbiosis have been associated with poor dietary patterns. Dietary prebiotic fibers play an essential role in modulating the gut microbiome by enhancing the abundance of beneficial microorganisms and improving the production of short-chain fatty acids. Arabinoxylan (AX) is a major component of most dietary fibers and has been shown to exhibit potential prebiotic properties and modulate gut microbiome composition. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro impact of bioengineered wheat arabinoxylan on depression-inversely linked gut microbes and human gut microbiome diversity and metabolism. This study demonstrates the ability of bioengineered AX to stimulate the growth of depression-inversely linked gut bacterial species (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG). On the microbiome composition, the bioengineered AX induced an increased abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Anaerofustis, and Eubacterium) compared to the control and native AX. These effects on microbes translated into significant metabolic activity and produced primary SCFAs (acetate, butyrate, and propionate). The findings from this study suggest that bioengineered wheat arabinoxylan could be considered a promising strategy for fostering next-generation prebiotics targeting depression-inversely linked gut microbes and also supports the structure-function relationship between AX and the human gut microbiome.

The main goal of this work is design and synthesis of novel composite hydrogel-based core-shell microparticles and their application for fabrication of coatings, which provide the “inverse-switching” behaviour to the surface, namely, to become more hydrophobic in water environment. Since contact angle of heterogeneous surfaces is dependent on the nature and ratio of surface components, an increase of amount of more hydrophobic component on the surface will cause the reducing of surface wettability. It was suggested that core-shell particles having water-swellable hydrogel core and hydrophobic, but permeable for water shell when deposited on the hydrophilic substrate should increase the total amount of hydrophobic component on the surface when the cores of particles will swell in water. During the work different approaches to obtain freely dispersed and surface-immobilized core-shell particles with required structure were developed. Obtained particles were applied for preparation of coatings with ability to display “inverse-switching” behaviour. It was demonstrated that properly designed and properly prepared core-shell particles could be successfully used for creation of smart adaptive coatings having the ability to alter the surface properties upon changing of the environment.

The main goal of this work is design and synthesis of novel composite hydrogel-based core-shell microparticles and their application for fabrication of coatings, which provide the “inverse-switching” behaviour to the surface, namely, to become more hydrophobic in water environment. Since contact angle of heterogeneous surfaces is dependent on the nature and ratio of surface components, an increase of amount of more hydrophobic component on the surface will cause the reducing of surface wettability. It was suggested that core-shell particles having water-swellable hydrogel core and hydrophobic, but permeable for water shell when deposited on the hydrophilic substrate should increase the total amount of hydrophobic component on the surface when the cores of particles will swell in water. During the work different approaches to obtain freely dispersed and surface-immobilized core-shell particles with required structure were developed. Obtained particles were applied for preparation of coatings with ability to display “inverse-switching” behaviour. It was demonstrated that properly designed and properly prepared core-shell particles could be successfully used for creation of smart adaptive coatings having the ability to alter the surface properties upon changing of the environment.