title: Enhancement of survival of alginate-encapsulated Lactobacillus casei NCDC 298.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micro-encapsulation of hydrocolloids improves the survival of sensitive probiotic bacteria in the harsh conditions that prevail in foods and during gastrointestinal passage by segregating them from environments. Incorporation of additives in encapsulating hydrocolloids and coatings of microcapsules further improves the survival of the probiotics. In this study, the effect of incorporation of resistant-maize starch in alginate for micro-encapsulation and coating of microcapsules with poly-l-lysine, stearic acid and bees wax on the survival of encapsulated Lactobacillus casei NCDC 298 at pH 1.5, 2% high bile salt, 65 °C for 20 min and release of viable lactobacilli cells from the capsule matrix in simulated aqueous solutions of colonic pH were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Addition of resistant maize starch (2%) improved the survival of encapsulated L. casei NCDC 298. Coating of microcapsules with poly-L-lysine did not further improve the protection of encapsulated cells from the harsh conditions; however, bees wax and stearic acid (2%) improved the survival under similar conditions. Incorporation of maize starch (2%) in alginate followed by coating of beads with stearic acid (2%) led to better protection and complete release of entrapped lactobacilli in simulated colonic pH solution was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional treatments improve the survival of alginate-encapsulated lactobacilli cells without hindering the release of active cells from the capsule matrix and hence, the resulting encapsulated probiotics can be exploited in the development of probiotic functional foods with better survival of sensitive probiotic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Deemed University, Karnal - 132001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Surajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Subrota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hati
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Puniya
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khamrui
authors.forename: Kishan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D003102:Colloids; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D005079:Excipients; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008239:Lysine; D050296:Microbial Viability; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013213:Starch; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014885:Waxes; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D003102:Colloids; D005079:Excipients; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014885:Waxes; C038228:beeswax; C031183:stearic acid; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D013213:Starch; D008239:Lysine
keywords: Lactobacillus spp; alginate; micro-encapsulation; probiotics; resistant maize starch; stearic acid