Polymer-Based and Biomaterial Encapsulation of Probiotics for Improved Viability

This review paper examines various polymers and biomaterials used for probiotic encapsulation, with particular emphasis on how these materials aid in improving probiotic viability. Probiotics are living microorganisms that offer the host a number of beneficial health effects when given in the right amounts to the targeted area of the digestive tract. Despite the array of promised health benefits, the functionality of these probiotics depends on their retaining viability and sufficient cell concentrations at the point of ingestion and digestion. However, a number of factors can compromise the viability of these probiotics, such as pH fluctuations, temperature extremes, oxygen content, flavored additives, moisture activity, packaging and storage conditions. Encapsulation, which is the process of entrapping one substance into another substance, has emerged as an effective strategy to overcome the difficulties associated with preserving probiotic viability. It shields probiotics from extrinsic stressors, while enhancing their stability and promoting efficient delivery to the gut. Probiotic viability during processing, storage, and digesting is ensured by the robust defense against external stressors provided by the polymers and biomaterials utilized to encapsulate these organisms. Their adaptable nature enables incorporation into diverse food systems, such as drinks, baked products, and plant-based formulations, helping to meet the increasing consumer interest in gut health-oriented functional foods. Some biomaterials can also serve as prebiotics, enhancing the proliferation of these beneficial microorganisms. This review aims to highlight the main polymers and biomaterials employed in probiotic encapsulation, with emphasis on how they enhance the stability, functionality, and overall viability of probiotic cells.