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The incorporation of probiotics in non-dairy matrices is challenging, and probiotics tend to have a low survival rate in these matrices and subsequently perform poorly in the gastrointestinal system. Encapsulation of probiotics with a physical barrier could preserve the survivability of probiotics and subsequently improve delivery efficiency to the host.
Methods |
Properties of Encapsulation |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Extrusion (external ionic gelation) |
Produces capsules with sizes of 100 μm to 3 mm. Can encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic/lipophilic compounds. |
Monodispersity. Simple and mild process.Can be conducted under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Low operation cost. High survival rate of probiotics. |
Produces relatively large beads.Slow solidification process. Not suitable for mass production. Additional drying process is required. |
|
Emulsion (internal ionic gelation) |
Produces capsules with sizes of 200 nm to 1 mm. Can encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. |
Simple process. Produces relatively small beads. Suitable for mass production. High survival rate of bacteria. |
Polydispersity. High operation cost. Conventional emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Not suitable for low-fat food matrices. Additional drying process is required. |
|
Coacervation (complex coacervation) |
Produces capsules with sizes of 1 μm to 1 mm. Encapsulates hydrophobic compounds. |
Simple and mild process. Suitable for the food industry. High encapsulation efficiency. Controlled release potential. |
High operational cost. Not suitable for mass production.Animal-based protein is commonly used. Only stable at a narrow pH, ionic strength, and temperature range. |
|
Spray-drying |
Produces capsules with sizes of 5–150 μm. Encapsulateshydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. |
Monodispersity. Fast, continuous process.L ow operation cost. Suitable for mass production. Produces dry beads with low bulk density, water activity, and high stability. |
Low cell viability. Produces beads with low uniformity.Biomaterials used have to be water-soluble. |
|
Freeze-drying |
Produces capsules with sizes of 1–1.5 mm. Encapsulates hydrophilic and hydrophobic/lipophilic compounds. |
Suitable for temperature-sensitive probiotics. Dried end product is suitable for most food applications. |
High operation cost. Not suitable for mass production. Cryoprotectants are needed. |
|
Spray chilling |
Produces capsules with sizes of 20–200 µm. Encapsulates hydrophobic compounds. |
Monodispersity. Fast, continuous, mild process. Low operation cost. Suitable for mass production.Promising in controlled release of probiotics. |
Low encapsulation efficiency. Rapid release of the encapsulated probiotics. Special storage conditions can be required. |
|
Fluidized bed coating |
Produces capsules with sizes of 5–5000 μm. Encapsulateshydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. |
Mild process.Low operation cost. Suitable for mass production. Can provide multi-coating layers. Suitable for temperature-sensitive probiotics. |
Slow process. Probiotics have to be pre-encapsulated and dried. |
Category |
Biomaterial |
Characteristics and Advantages |
Limitations |
Remarks |
References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carbohydrate |
Alginates |
Anionic character, non-toxic, biocompatibility, biocompostability, cell affinity, strong bioadhesion, absorption characteristics, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and low in cost. Stable (shrink) in the low acidic stomach gastric solution and gradually dissolve (swell and release encapsulated probiotics) under alkaline conditions in the small intestine. |
Sensitive to heat treatment, highly porous, poor stability and barrier properties. |
Technique: extrusion, emulsion.Could form a strong gel network by interacting with cationic material (e.g., chitosan). Combination: pectin, starch, chitosan. |
|
Chitosan |
Cationic character, non-toxic, biodegradability, bioadhesiveness, antimicrobial, antifungal, low in cost, high film-forming properties, great probiotics biocompatibility, resistance to the damaging effects of calcium chelating and anti-gelling agent, generate strong beads. |
Degrade easily in low pH conditions, water-insoluble at pH > 5.4. Pose inhibitory effect against lactic acid bacteria. |
Technique: extrusion, layer-by-layer (LbL), emulsion.Normally used as a coating rather than as a capsule. Combination: alginate, pectin. |
||
Starch and starch derivatives |
GRAS is abundant, low in cost, non-allergenic, and biodegradable. Could produce gels with strong but flexible structure, transparent, colorless, flavorless, and odorless gel that is semi-permeable to water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Resistant to pancreatic enzymes. Pose prebiotic properties. |
Exhibit high viscosity in solution. |
Technique: extrusion, emulsion. Combination: alginate. |
||
Cellulose and cellulose derivatives |
Abundant, low in cost, biodegradability, biocompatibility, tunable surface properties. Insoluble at pH ≤ 5 but soluble at pH ≥ 6, effective in delivering probiotics to the colon. |
Cannot form gel beads by extrusion technique. |
Technique: emulsion, spray-drying. Combination: alginate, protein. |
[56] |
|
Maltodextrin |
Non-toxic, bland in taste, abundant, low in cost, good solubility, low viscosity even at high solid content. Excellent thermal stability. Pose (moderate) prebiotic properties. |
Low emulsifying capacity. |
Technique: spray-drying. Combination: gum Arabic, sodium caseinate. |
||
Carrageenan (κ-carrageenan) |
Pose thermosensitive and thermoreversible characteristics, the probiotic release can be controlled with temperature. |
The gel beads produced are irregular in shape, brittle and weak, and their probiotic release rate is much slower than alginate beads. |
Technique: extrusion, emulsion. Dissolves at 80–90 °C. Addition of probiotics at 40–50 °C. Gelation at room temperature. Combination: milk protein, alginate, locust bean gum (LBG), carboxymethyl cellulose. |
||
Pectin |
Anionic character, abundant, non-toxic, water-soluble, biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesiveness, antimicrobial, antiviral, good gelling, emulsifying, thickening and water binding properties, prebiotic effect. |
Low in thermal stability, poor mechanical properties. High water solubility. High concentration of sucrose contents. |
Technique: spray-drying. Combination: a variety of carbohydrate-based biomaterials. |
||
Gums |
Xanthan gum |
Anionic character, non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible, excellent gelling properties, highly soluble in both cold and hot water. Excellent heat and acid stability. Resistant to gastrointestinal digestion and enzymatic decomposition. Could also act as a source prebiotic. |
High susceptibility to microbial contamination, unstable viscosity, and uncontrollable hydration rate. Gels produced solely using xanthan gum are relatively weak. |
Technique: spray and freeze-drying. Combination: alginate, chitosan, gellan, and β-cyclodextrin. |
|
Gellan gum |
Anionic character, non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, water-soluble, and low in cost. High resistance against heat, acidic environments, and enzymatic degradation. Swell at high pH. |
High gel-setting temperatures (80–90 °C) cause heat injuries to probiotics. |
Technique: spray-drying. Combination: gelatin, sodium caseinate, and alginate. |
||
Gum Arabic |
Anionic character, acid stability, highly water soluble, low in viscosity. Exhibit surface activity, foaming, and emulsifying abilities. Could prevent complete dehydration of probiotics during the drying process and storage. |
Restricted availability and high cost. Show only partial protection against oxygen. |
Technique: spray-drying. Combination: maltodextrin, gelatin, whey protein isolates. |
||
Animal-based proteins |
Gelatin |
Amphoteric character, could form complexes with anionic polymers. Could produce beads with strong structure and impermeable to oxygen. |
High solubility. |
Technique: extrusion, complex coacervation, spray chilling, spray-drying, lyophilization. Combination: alginate, pectin. |
|
Whey protein |
Amphoteric character, highly nutritious, high resistance and stability against pepsin digestion, great gelation properties, thermal stability, hydration, and emulsification properties. |
The gel beads or matrices produced are weak. |
Technique: extrusion. Combination: gum Arabic, pectin, maltodextrin. |
||
Milk protein (casein) |
Amphiphilic character, abundant, low in cost, possess excellent gelling and emulsifying properties, self-assembling properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, produce gel beads with varying sizes (range from 1 to 1000 µm), higher density and better protection, high resistance to thermal denaturation (sodium caseinate). |
Immunogenicity and allergenicity. |
Technique: extrusion, emulsification, spray-drying, enzyme-induced gelation. Combination: a variety of carbohydrate-based biomaterials. |
||
Plant-based proteins |
Zein protein |
Amphiphilic character, biocompatible, biodegradable, water-insoluble, high resistance against gastric juice. |
Highly unstable, aggregate in aqueous solutions. |
Technique: electro-spinning, electro-spraying, spray-drying. Combination: sodium caseinate, alginate, pectin. |
[68] |
Soy protein |
High nutritional value, less allergenic, surface active, good emulsifying, absorbing, film forming properties, high resistance against gastric juice. |
Heat-induced gel formation. |
Technique: extrusion, spray-drying, coacervation. Combination: carrageenan, pectin. |
||
Lipids |
Natural waxes, vegetable oils, diglycerides, monoglycerides, fatty acids, resins |
Low in polarity, excellent water barrier properties, thermally stable, and could encapsulate hydrophilic substances. |
Weak mechanical properties, chemically unstable, might negatively affect the sensory characteristics of food products due to lipid oxidation. |
Technique: spray chilling, spray coating.Have melting points ranging from 50–85 °C. Combination: polysaccharides or proteins. |
[70] |
Category |
Technology |
Probiotic/LAB Strain |
Encapsulating Agent |
Food Product |
Results |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fruit and vegetable-based |
Emulsion |
Bifidobacterium bifidum |
60 mL sodium alginate, κ-carrageenan, 5 g Tween 80 |
Grape juice |
The viability of B. bifidum was enhanced from 6.58 log CFU/mL (free) to 8.51 log CFU/mL (sodium alginate-encapsulated) and 7.09 log CFU/mL (κ-carrageenan-encapsulated) after 35 days of storage. |
[7] |
Extrusion |
Enterococcus faecium |
2% (w/w) sodium alginate |
Cherry juice |
Encapsulated probiotics had higher viability during storage (4 and 25 °C) and stronger tolerance against heat, acid, and digestion treatments than free probiotics. |
[13] |
|
Emulsion |
Lactobacillus salivarius spp. salivarius CECT 4063 |
100 mL of sodium alginate (3%), 1 mL Tween 80 |
Apple matrix |
Encapsulated L. salivarius spp. Salivarius had higher survivability (3%) than those non-encapsulated (19%) after 30 days of storage. |
[10] |
|
Complex coacervation |
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis |
6% whey protein concentrate, 1% gum Arabic, 5% (w/w) proanthocyanidin-rich cinnamon extract (bioactive compound) |
Sugar cane juice |
Co-encapsulation of compounds was effective in protecting the viability of B. animalis and the stability of proanthocyanidins during storage and allowing simultaneous delivery. |
[14] |
|
Emulsion |
Lactobacillus acidophilus PTCC1643, Bifidobacterium bifidum PTCC 1644 |
2% (v/w) sodium alginate, 5 g/L Span 80 emulsifier |
Grape juice |
The survivability of L. acidophilus and B. Bifidum in the encapsulated samples (8.67 and 8.27 log CFU/mL) was higher than free probiotics (7.57 and 7.53 log CFU/mL) after 60 days of storage at 4 °C. |
[15] |
|
Emulsion followed by coating |
Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Saccharomyces boulardii |
Emulsion: 20 mL of sodium alginate (2%), 0.1% Tween 80 Coating: 0.4% chitosan in acidified distilled water |
Tomato and carrot juices |
Encapsulated probiotics had higher viability than free probiotics during storage of 5–6 weeks at 4 °C. Lys. sphaericus was observed to have higher viability and stability than other probiotics. |
[16] |
|
Co-encapsulation (extrusion) |
Lactococcus lactis ABRIINW-N19 |
1.5, 2% alginate-0.5% Persian gum (hydrogels), 1, 1.5, 2% fructooligosaccharides (FOS; prebiotic), and 1, 1.5, 2% inulin (prebiotic) |
Orange juice |
All formulations used were able to retain the viability of L. lactis during 6 weeks of storage at 4 °C. Encapsulated L. lactis were only released after 2 h and remained stable for up to 12 h in colonic conditions. |
[17] |
|
Vibrating nozzle method (evolved extrusion) |
Lactobacillus casei DSM 20011 |
2% sodium alginate |
Pineapple, raspberry, and orange juices |
After 28 days of storage at 4 °C, some microcapsules were observed as broken in pineapple juice, but the viability was 100% (2.3 × 107 CFU/g spheres). 91% viability (5.5 × 106 CFU/g spheres) was observed in orange juice. Raspberry juice was not a suitable medium for L. casei. |
[18] |
|
Co-encapsulation (spray-drying) |
Lactobacillus reuteri |
60 g maltodextrin, 0−2% gelatin |
Passion fruit juice powder |
The use of gelatin in combination with maltodextrin was more efficient in maintaining the cellular viability and retention of phenolic compounds than maltodextrin alone. |
[19] |
|
Spray-drying |
Lactobacillus plantarum |
0.5% (w/w) magnesium carbonate, 12% (w/w) maltodextrin |
Sohiong (Prunus nepalensis L.) juice powder |
The quality of probiotic Sohiong juice powder and viability of L. plantarum (6.12 log CFU/g) could be maintained for 36 days without refrigeration (25 °C and 50% relative humidity). |
[20] |
|
Fluidized bed drying |
Bacillus coagulans |
Mixture of 0.0125 g/mL hydroxyethyl cellulose and 1.17 µL/mL polyethylene glycol |
Dried apple snack |
Encapsulated Bacillus coag-ulans in dried apple snacks had high viability (>8 log CFU/portion) after 90 days of storage at 25 °C. |
[11] |
|
Extrusion |
Lactobacillus plantarum |
Mixtures (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:12) of 4% (w/v) sodium alginate and 20% (w/v) soy protein isolate |
Mango juice |
Homogenous aqueous solutions of alginate and soy protein isolate (1:8) increased the thermal resistance of L. plantarum against pasteurization process. The viability of L. plantarum remained high after the pasteurization process (8.11 log CFU/mL; reduced 0.99 log CFU/mL). |
[21] |
|
Layer-by-layer (Coating) |
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v |
First layer: 1% (w/v) carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and 50% w/w (based on CMC weight) glycerol; Second layer: 5% (w/v) zein protein |
Apple slices |
The viability of CMC-zein protein-coated L. plantarum 299v was higher than CMC-coated L. plantarum 299v in apple slices under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (120 min digestion; CMC-zein protein-coated: 1.00 log CFU/g reduction, CMC-coated: 2.18 log CFU/g reduction). |
[12] |
|
Complex coacervation (associated with enzymatic crosslinking) |
Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-02 |
Complex co-acervation: 2.5% gelatin, 2.5% gum Arabic; Crosslinking: 2.5, 5.0 U/g transglutaminase |
Apple and orange juices |
Encapsulated L. acidophilus LA-02 incorporated in fruit juices was able to survive throughout the storage period of 63 days (4 °C). |
[22] |
|
Freeze-drying, spray-drying |
Enterococcus faecalis (K13) |
Gum Arabic and maltodextrin |
Carrot juice powder |
Heat injuries to the probiotics are lower in the freeze-drying technique compared to spray-drying. After being stored for 1 month, the viability of freeze-dried E. faecalis remained high (6–7 log CFU/g). |
[23] |
|
Spray-drying |
Lactobacillus casei Shirota, Lactobacillus casei Immunitas, and Lactobacillus acidophilus Johnsonii |
Maltodextrin and pectin at weight ratio of 10:1 |
Orange juice powder |
The combination of pectin and maltodextrins effectively protected the probiotics during the spray-drying process and storage (4 °C) |
[24] |
|
Freeze-drying |
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei |
Whey protein isolate, fructooligosaccharides, and combination of whey protein isolate, fructooligosaccharides (1:1) |
Banana powder |
L. acidophilus and L. casei encapsulated with the combination of whey protein isolate and fructooligosaccharides had higher survivability after being stored for 30 days at 4 °C and more resistant to the simulated gastric fluid intestinal fluid than free probiotics. |
[25] |
|
Fluidized bed drying |
Lactobacillus plantarum TISTR 2075 |
3% (w/w) gelatin and 5% (w/w) of monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin, inulin, and fructooligosaccharide |
Carrot tablet |
Encapsulated L. plantarum TISTR 2075 in carrot tablet (survivability: 77.68–87.30%) had higher tolerance against heat digestion treatments than free cells (39.52%). |
[26] |
|
Other beverages |
Spray-drying |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) |
Mixtures (1:1.6 (w/w)) of 7.5% (w/v) whey protein isolate and 20% (w/v) modified huauzontle’s starch (acid hydrolysis-extrusion), supplemented with ascorbic acid |
Green tea beverage |
The viability of LGG remained above the recommended 7 log CFU/mL after 5 weeks of storage at 4 °C. |
[28] |
Co-encapsulation (extrusion) |
Lactobacillus acidophilus TISTR 2365 |
Alginate, egg (0, 0.8, 1, and 3%, w/v), and fruiting body of bamboo mushroom (prebiotic) |
Sweet fermented rice (Khoa-Mak) sap beverage |
All formulations used were able to provide high encapsulation yields (95.72−98.86%) and high viability of L. acidophilus (>8 log CFU/g) in Khoa-Mak sap beverages for 35 days of storage at 4 °C. Encapsulation with involvement of 3% egg of bamboo mushroom increased the survival of L. acidophilus the most. |
[27] |
|
Co-encapsulation (extrusion) |
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (L-NCFM) |
Co-extrusion: 0–2% (w/v) LBG, 0–5% (w/v) mannitol (prebiotic) Coating: sodium alginate |
Mulberry tea |
L-NCFM encapsulated with LBG and mannitol (0.5% (w/v) and 3% (w/v), respectively) showed microencapsulation efficiency and viability of 96.81% and 8.92 log CFU/mL, respectively. Among other samples, L-NCFM microencapsulated with mannitol showed the highest survivability (78.89%) and viable count (6.80 log CFU/mL) after 4 weeks of storage at 4 and 25 °C. |
[29] |
|
Bakery products |
Double-layered microencapsulation, combination of spray chilling and spray-drying |
Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum |
Spray chilling: 5% (v/w) blend of gum Arabic and β-cyclodextrin solution (9:1 (w/w), 20 g in total), 1% lecithin Spray-drying: 5% (v/w) blend of gum Arabic and β-cyclodextrin solution, 20 g hydrogenated palm oil, 2% Tween 80 emulsifier |
Cake |
The survivability of probiotics during the cake baking process was improved by double-layered microencapsulation. |
[31] |
Fluidized bed drying |
Lactobacillus sporogenes |
First layer: 10 g microcrystalline cellulose powder and alginate or xanthan gum Second layer: gellan or chitosan |
Bread |
Encapsulated L. sporogenes in alginate (1%) capsule tolerated the simulated gastric acid condition the best. The incorporation of chitosan (0.5%) as an outer layer improved the heat tolerance of L. sporogenes. Encapsulated L. sporogenes with an outer layer coated with 1.5% gellan showed the highest survivability 24 h after baking. |
[32] |
|
Emulsion |
Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 |
1. Alginate 2%; 2. Alginate 2% + maltodextrin 1%; 3. Alginate 2% + xanthan gum 0.1%; 4. Alginate 2% + maltodextrin 1% + 0.1% xanthan gum |
Bread |
Among the encapsulation agents, probiotics encapsulated using the combination of maltodextrin, xanthan gum, and alginate (4) had the highest survivability under storage (7.7 log CFU/bread) and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. |
[33] |
|
Sauce |
Co-encapsulation (extrusion) |
Lactobacillus casei Lc-01, Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 |
4% (w/v) sodium alginate and 2% alginate mixture in distilled watercontaining 2% high amylose maize starch (prebiotic), 0.2% Tween 80 |
Mayonnaise |
The viability of L. casei and L. acidophilus encapsulated with high amylose maize starch (7.204 and 8.45 log CFU/mL, respectively) was higher than free probiotics (6.23 and 6.039 log CFU/mL, respectively) and those without high amylose maize starch (7.1 and 7.94 log CFU/mL, respectively) after 91 days of storage at 4°C. |
[35] |
Others |
Extrusion followed by freeze-drying |
Lactobacillus casei (L. casei 431) |
3% (w/v) quince seed gum, sodium alginate, quince seed gum-sodium alginate |
Powdered functional drink |
Quince seed gum-alginate microcapsules provided encapsulation efficiency of 95.20% and increased the survival rate of L. casei to 87.56%. The powdered functional drink was shelf stable for 2 months. |
[37] |
Spray chilling |
Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis |
Vegetable fat (Tri-HS-48) |
Savory cereal bars |
The viabilities of spray-chilled probiotics were higher than freeze-dried and free probiotics in the savory cereal bars after being stored for 90 days at 4 °C. |
[34] |
|
Co-encapsulation (extrusion) |
Lactobacillus reuteri |
2% (w/v) sodium alginate, 5 mL of inulin and lecithin solution (0, 0.5, and 1%) |
Chewing gum |
After storing for 21 days with encapsulation, L. reuteri remained viable. The viability of the probiotic increased with the concentration of inulin and lecithin. |
[36] |