Novel biofilm-inspired encapsulation technology enhances the viability of probiotics during processing, storage, and delivery

Abstract

Background

Probiotics have long been recognized for providing numerous health benefits to humans. However, their survival rate during processing, storage, and delivery has become a significant concern. Various encapsulation techniques have been proposed to maintain high survivability of probiotics under stress conditions. Moreover, the ability of probiotics to form biofilms to enhance their survival, colonization, and functionality, has led to the development of biofilm-based probiotics encapsulation.

Scope and approach

This review presents cutting-edge advances in probiotic biofilm-inspired encapsulation technology (PBET) to enhance probiotic viability in harsh environments encountered during processing, storage, and delivery. Several critical gaps are addressed: (1) challenges facing probiotics in food systems where major stressors compromise viability, and strategies to extend their viability; (2) significant advantages and applications of probiotic biofilms; and (3) unique properties of novel biofilm-inspired encapsulation technology for probiotic survival and applications. Lastly, safety concerns for biofilm-inspired encapsulation technology that largely overlooked in previous studies were also provided.

Key findings and conclusion: The novel probiotic biofilm-inspired encapsulation technology enhances remarkable resistance of probiotics, which is mainly attributed to high concentrations of probiotics inside the beads, the protection from biofilm structures and increased contents of extracellular polymers, i.e., polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids in the wall materials, and the physical impact offered by the wall materials. This review provides a proof-of-concept of the ability of probiotics to form biofilms under an encapsulation state, broadening their survivability knowledge against adverse conditions, which could represent a fourth-generation strategy to enhance probiotics protection and delivery.