Professor František Štěpánek and his team at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague studied how to improve the bioactivity of bee propolis by using a carrier derived from common baker’s yeast. Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees that has known antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but its use in medical or material applications has been limited by its poor solubility in water.
Brejchová, A., Králová, E., Strnad, O., Třešňáková, P., Habibullah, G., Rýparová Kvirencová, J., Hrbek, V., Viktorová, J., Lizoňová, D., & Štěpánek, F. (2025). Evaluation of in vitro bioactivity profile of bee propolis extracts delivered by yeast glucan particles. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 114, 107490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.107490
The researchers addressed the solubility issue by extracting the outer cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to form hollow, porous glucan particles, which then served as a carrier for propolis extract. The resulting composite material was shown to enhance the release of active compounds from propolis in an aqueous environment, thereby increasing its effectiveness in laboratory tests compared with propolis alone.
Professor František Štěpánek from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague stated,
“The glucan particle itself is also beneficial, as it can interact with the immune system. This combination creates a synergistic effect where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. By solving the solubility problem, we’ve made propolis a much more effective and viable therapeutic.”
To evaluate the system, the team conducted in-vitro tests of inflammatory marker reduction and microbial inhibition. The composite (glucan particles loaded with propolis) achieved rapid release of the propolis components, produced higher concentrations than the pure extract when used in water, and proved more effective in reducing the inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The loaded particles also showed improved antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus relative to untreated propolis.
In one wound-model experiment the composite achieved complete closure of the simulated wound within 48 hours, whereas the propolis extract in ethanol solvent did not reach full closure even after 72 hours. This result indicates that shifting the delivery medium from organic solvent to aqueous fluid, via the yeast-derived carrier, substantially improves functional performance of the propolis.
The significance of this work lies not only in improving natural therapies but also in providing a scalable method for delivering poorly soluble bioactives. The glucan particle carrier is inexpensive and biocompatible, and the process integrates with existing techniques such as spray-drying. The team believes the approach might enable new applications of propolis in wound-healing products, sensor coatings, or functional materials where water-based formulations are required.
Further work is underway to explore how deep the chemical patterning within the particles extends and how this affects transport of the active compounds. The authors also note that while the experiments were conducted in controlled laboratory settings, translation to industrial scale or clinical setting will require additional validation of stability, safety and manufacturing. Nonetheless, the study presents a promising route to making a well-known natural substance much more effective by addressing a microscale material-science challenge.
Adrian graduated with a Masters Degree (1st Class Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Chester University along with Harris. His master’s research aimed to develop a standardadised clean water oxygenation transfer procedure to test bubble diffusers that are currently used in the wastewater industry commercial market. He has also undergone placments in both US and China primarely focused within the R&D department and is an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
