Encapsulation, Biodegradeable Microspheres

ENCAPSULATION OF A STRAIN OF LACTO BACTERIA INTO FOOD-SAFE, BIODEGRADABLE MICROSPHERES, WHICH WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A FOOD PRODUCT

INTRODUCTION:

Lactobacillus species are health-enhancing intestinal flora, which flourish naturally in the gastrointestinal system where they limit the ability of harmful bacteria to multiply and thrive. Under stress condition or when we ingest antibiotics, the populations of these good bacteria tend to diminish inside the body, leaving humans more vulnerable to gastrointestinal disorders and diseases. A safe system is required to deliver these bacteria as supplements into intestine. These bacteria are anaerobic in nature and sensitive to oxygen, moisture etc. Therefore, co-ingestion with food components remains threat of survivability of these bacteria.

CHALLENGES:

a) Survival against environmental condition during storage (Exposure to oxygen, temperature, moisture etc.)
b) Stressful processing conditions when deliver with food components.
c) Safe passage through acidic environment of stomach (with a pH as low as 1.5) and the bile acids (with a pH as low as 2) to reach the intestinal tract.

MY CHOICE:

Microencapsulation technique would be a choice to enhance the survival and delivery of these bacteria into intestine. Alginate is a biodegradable polymer which can degrade at higher pH (Intestinal pH.). Therefore, alginate microsphere can provide a good barrier against adverse environmental and stressful processing condition with food components and can safely deliver bacterial cells from acidic environment of stomach to intestine.

Characterization:

a) Determine the purity (free from accidental co-encapsulated pathogens etc.).
b) Physicochemical Properties: Particle size distribution, porosity, morphology etc.
c) Determine the effect of particle size on bacterial loading and release.
d) Design stability study with different conditions to assess the viability of cells in the microsphere.
e) Suspension of microsphere: Screen at different media, assessing the effect of pH, ionic strength and nature of ionic species on the strength of microsphere and viability of bacteria.
f) Modulate the bacterial release profile and complete release of the bacteria.