Recent advances in electrospray encapsulation of probiotics: influencing factors, natural polymers and emerging technologies

The probiotic food sector is rapidly growing due to increased consumer demand for nutritional supplements. However, ensuring probiotic viability within the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract remains a major challenge. While probiotic encapsulation is a promising solution to enhance probiotic viability, most traditional encapsulation methods have significant limitations. This review underscores the significance of adopting novel encapsulation technologies, particularly electrospray (ES), which offers superior encapsulation efficiency and versatility. It begins with an introduction to the principles and classification of ES, analyzes factors influencing the properties of ES microcapsules, and reviews the use of natural polymers in ES-based encapsulation. Additionally, it discusses recent advancements in this field, focusing on improvements in ES equipment (e.g., coaxial ES and emulsion ES) and the integration of ES with other technologies (e.g., microfluidic ES and ES-fluidized bed coating). Finally, it highlights existing challenges and explores future prospects in this evolving field, offering valuable insights for advancing probiotic encapsulation technologies and enhancing public health outcomes.