Probiotic viability as affected by encapsulation materials: recent updates and perspectives

The demand for probiotic-based functional food is increasing globally owing to its health-endorsing attributes. There are various driving forces behind probiotic therapy. However, Intestinal dysbiosis in humans is the prime driving force behind this increasing trend in the consumption of probiotic-based functional food. Probiotics have numerous health potentials, however, their target delivery and stability is a great challenge for food manufacturer. Microencapsulation with various types of coating materials is trending for the target and stable delivery of potential probiotics. There are various encapsulation techniques with pros and cons. The type of probiotic bacteria, encapsulation methods, and coating materials are considered crucial factors to prolong the viability of probiotics under hostile conditions. The current review addresses the opportunities, challenges, and future trends surrounding matrix materials used in probiotic encapsulation. The review also describes the current studies and their findings on the various types of encapsulation materials. This comprehensive review could be a way forward in the selection of efficient and effective wall material for the target delivery of sensitive ingredients.