Investigation of drug release systems for application Probiotic Delivery

Probiotics are live microorganisms that have a positive effect on our health and bring many benefits when consumed in sufficient doses. Maintaining the viability of probiotic bacteria during oral administration can be challenging due to the harsh conditions they face, such as the acidic conditions of the stomach. However, delivery systems for probiotics are very different and important in terms of effectiveness for patient health. These release systems can be categorized into conventional formulations, pharmaceuticals, and non-conventional products, mainly food-based commercial products. In this review, we focus on polymeric carriers and methods applied to encapsulate probiotics in them. Microcapsule technology has been proposed as a successful strategy with key factors including the ability of microcapsules to transport viable functional bacteria in sufficient numbers, protect against harsh physiological conditions, and survive formulation processes to improve their efficacy after oral administration. Also, biodegradable polymers or hydrogels as carriers of probiotics can protect bacteria from the acidic environment of the stomach and increase their survival during storage and consumption. Overall, by combining advances in carrier materials and microcapsules, there is promising potential to improve probiotic delivery and increase health benefits for patients.