Abstract
Alginate-coated gelatin microspheres were produced to encapsulate the probiotic Bifidobacterium adolescentis 15703T with the objective of enhancing survival during exposure to the adverse conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract. Gelatin microspheres were cross-linked with the non-cytotoxic genipin and coated with alginate cross-linked by Ca2+ from external or internal sources. The alginate coat prevented pepsin-induced degradation of the gelatin microspheres in simulated gastric juice (pH 2.0, 2 h), resulting in significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of survivors due to the buffering effect of intact microspheres. After sequential incubation in simulated gastric (I h) and intestinal juices (pH 7.4, 4 h), number of surviving cells were 7.6 and 7.4 log cfu ml(-1) for alginate coated microspheres by the internal and external Ca2+-source methods, respectively, while 6.7 and 6.4 log cfu ml(-1) were obtained for cells in uncoated gelatin microspheres and free cells, respectively. This study presents a novel microencapsulation method, which protects probiotic bifidobacteria during exposure to adverse environmental conditions. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Food Research International |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 184-193 |
ISSN | 0963-9969 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Gelatin
- Alginate
- Microencapsulation
- Probiotics
- Bifidobacterium adolescentis
- Simulated gastro-intestinal juices
- Functional foods