title: The behaviour of whey protein isolate in protecting Lactobacillus plantarum.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that whey protein isolates (WPI), can be utilised to encapsulate and protect bioactive substances, including lactic acid bacteria, due to their physicochemical properties. However, little is known about what happens in the immediate vicinity of the cells. This study examined the protective behaviour of WPI for two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, A17 and B21, during spray drying. B21 was found to be more hydrophobic than A17 and required 50% of the amount of WPI to provide comparably high survival (∼ 90%). We hypothesise that WPI protects the hydrophobic bacteria by initial attachment to the unfolded whey protein due to hydrophobic interactions followed by adhesion to the proteins, resulting in cells being embedded within the walls of the capsules. The encapsulated strains had a moisture content of approximately 5.5% and during storage trials at 20 °C retained viability for at least eight weeks.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St, Melbourne, Vic 3001 Australia.
authors.forename: Sarim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khem
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St, Melbourne, Vic 3001 Australia.
authors.forename: Darryl M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St, Melbourne, Vic 3001 Australia. Electronic address: bee.may@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Bee K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000067816:Whey Proteins
keywords: Hydrophobic cells; Lactobacillus plantarum; Spray drying; Whey protein isolate