Reformulation of Mice Fodder with Encapsulated Lactobacillus fermentum E5

Common in vivo probiotic delivery through oral gavage may result in esophagealinjury as well as restraint-associated-distress particularly with repeated application. To overcome the issue, in this study, Lactobacillus fermentum E5 was embedded in sodium alginate-chitosan capsules and incorporated with commercial mice fodder. The survival of probiotic following various procedures and storage was evaluated. More than 90% of viable cells were successfully recovered from fresh microcapsules and 95% of the encapsulated probiotics survived freeze drying process. Furthermore, the encapsulated cells exhibitedsurvivability of more than 85% after 28 days storage period at 4°C and room temperature. Reformulation of mice fodder was done by crushing the commercial pellet, adding encapsulated probiotic, mixing, re-pelleting using 3% (v/v) sodium alginate solution as binder. After storing at room temperature, almost 80% of encapsulated L. fermentum E5 in mice fodder survived.