Survivability and characterization of the biofilm-like probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus encapsulated in calcium alginate gel beads

Probiotic bacteria have been well-known to provide health benefits to human beings. However, several harsh conditions have threatened their survival rate during processing, storage, and transit through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This study investigated the survivability of biofilm-producing Pediococcus pentosaceus encapsulated in calcium alginate gel beads (CAGBs) against harsh conditions. The present study successfully produced biofilms-in situ culture of P. pentosaceus in the CAGBs (CAGB-bio-situ). The subsequently formed biofilms showed high survivability to the GIT environment (50%–74%), refrigerator storage (88.6%), and pH 2 (30.7%). In addition, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that no new chemical bonds were formed between the sodium alginate and the bacterial cell. Furthermore, the water content of the CAGBs averaged 10.06%, which was considered acceptable. A single-step weight loss was observed in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of CAGBs, while CAGB-bio-situ showed high thermal stability. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed bacteria aggregation on the beads surface in CAGB-bio-situ. As an alternative approach, this study speculates that the ability of P. pentosaceus to form biofilm would benefit from additional protection of CAGBs, which could serve as a fourth-generation approach to protect probiotics.