Microencapsulating polymers for probiotics delivery systems: Preparation, characterization, and applications

Probiotics are a promising prevention and treatment strategy for several diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), atopic diseases, acute infectious diarrhea, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Although probiotics are associated with many health benefits, their application is limited due to reductions in the viability of probiotic cells during processing, storage, and delivery to the targeted site of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Microencapsulation technology can improve the delivery of probiotics by protecting products from environmental and physiological factors (e.g., pH, oxygen, and temperature) and facilitating their delivery to the colon. Encapsulating materials have a significant influence on the survivability of encapsulated probiotic bacteria. This review article paints a comprehensive picture of encapsulating materials used for the microencapsulation of probiotic bacteria, provides a comprehensive comparison of all food-grade encapsulation materials. Furthermore, an overview of the relevant scientific literature on the characterization of encapsulated probiotics delivery systems are provided.