Advances in emulsification-based encapsulation techniques for probiotic stabilization in pharmaceutical formulations

There is a growing trend in the use of probiotics, and studies have suggested their great potential in treating or preventing various health conditions. Probiotics may be beneficial in gastrointestinal conditions, as well as metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, they have been formulated in a wide range of dosage forms for diverse pharmaceutical applications. However, maintaining the viability and stability of probiotics in finished products is challenging, as they are highly susceptible to environmental, biological, and production conditions. Thus, formulations and techniques used to produce probiotic-based dosage forms should be designed and selected carefully to ensure efficacy, safety, and stability. Emulsification is a technique used to encapsulate and protect probiotic bacteria, and emulsions are widely used in pharmaceutical formulations, especially topical ones. Although the emulsification technique has some limitations, it is easy to scale up, flexible, and can be used for different probiotic microorganisms. Moreover, this technique can be combined with ionic gelation, freeze drying, and spray drying for more desirable outcomes. This study aims to evaluate materials that can be used in the encapsulation of probiotics by emulsification for better stability and viability. In addition, this study examines the pharmaceutical applications of emulsion-based techniques for probiotics encapsulation and formulation by reviewing the existing data. Given the health advantages of probiotics and the increasing trend toward using them to ameliorate diseases or enhance medications, studying probiotic-stabilizing techniques for pharmaceutical applications is increasingly important.