Single-cell encapsulation technology is an advanced method to protect probiotics from adverse environmental conditions by forming coating on the surface of individual probiotics. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) was used as model probiotic. Four polysaccharides, namely carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), chitooligosaccharide (COS), amylopectin (AP) and pectin (PE), as well as four proteins, namely gelatin (GE), whey protein isolate (WPI), ovalbumin (OVA) and soy protein isolate (SPI), were selected as the initial coating materials. The coated probiotics were prepared by single-cell encapsulation under pH 3.0–6.0 for the first time. The feasibility, mechanism and effect of these coatings were then explored. Results indicated that the positively charged materials were conducive to the formation of coating, and the optimal pH was 4.0. Silkworm cocoon-like coatings with a thickness of 100–150 nm on the surface of L. plantarum were observed. Subsequently, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction were the main driving forces between coatings and L. plantarum. In addition, COS coating fostered the growth and reproduction of L. plantarum, while CMCS and OVA inhibited it. Finally, COS, WPI and GE coatings as barriers all improved the survival rate of L. plantarum under pasteurization, freeze-thaw cycle and storage conditions. Among them, COS as a marine oligosaccharide had the best protective effect on L. plantarum due to its excellent properties and the dense coating it formed. The results may provide more support for further development of nanocoated probiotics.
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