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Process Development for the Spray-Drying of Probiotic Bacteria and Evaluation of the Product Quality
Published on: April 7, 2023
Stability of lactobacilli encapsulated in various microbial polymers
María Luján Jiménez-Pranteda1, Denis Poncelet, María Elena Náder-Macías
1Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain. jimepra@ugr.es
Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
|November 22, 2011
Summary
Microbial polymers like xanthan:gellan gum show promise for encapsulating probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus). This encapsulation enhances survival in simulated bile and at low pH, crucial for oral delivery applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Food Science
Background:
- Probiotic viability is often compromised during oral delivery due to harsh gastrointestinal conditions.
- Microbial polymers offer a potential solution for encapsulating sensitive probiotic bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate various microbial polymers as encapsulating agents for Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
- To assess the survival of encapsulated probiotics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and varying pH levels.
Main Methods:
- Encapsulation of Lactobacillus strains using xanthan gum, gellan gum, pullulan gum, and jamilan.
- Microcapsule morphology analysis via scanning electron microscopy.
- Tolerance testing at different pH values (2.0-6.5) and simulated gastrointestinal conditions (gastric, pancreatic, bile).
Main Results:
- Xanthan:gellan gum (1%:0.75%) and jamilan:gellan gum (1%:1%) mixtures were most suitable for microencapsulation.
- Encapsulation in xanthan:gellan gum (1%:0.75%) improved probiotic viability at pH 2.0 and against simulated bile exposure.
- No significant viability improvement was observed at other tested pH levels compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Microbial polymers, particularly xanthan:gellan gum, are effective encapsulating materials for probiotics.
- These polymers enhance probiotic survival in specific harsh conditions relevant to oral delivery.
- Further research into microbial polymers for probiotic encapsulation is warranted for developing effective oral delivery systems.
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