Microencapsulated Lactobacillus Powder: An Approach to Produce Probiotics Resistant to Different Stress Conditions

Abstract

Microencapsulated probiotics may be an effective method of producing stable preparations that retain functional properties for nutraceutical applications. Morphology, thermal and mechanical stress resistance, storage, and release stability of bacteria in simulated gastrointestinal fluid were examined. The survival rates after different treatments were significantly higher when Lactobacillus spp. was microencapsulated, in comparison with freeze-dried cells. Notably, encapsulated samples exhibited optimal protection under gastrointestinal conditions, with survival rates of 25% at 100° C, 41% at 70% relative humidity for 20 days, and 32% after exposure to a mechanical force of 3 tons. Conversely, non-encapsulated samples failed to survive under gastrointestinal conditions following thermal, mechanical, and storage treatments. Consequently, the study highlights those key probiotic properties, such as thermal, humidity, mechanical stress, and pH tolerance, that were retained to a significant extent through microencapsulation.