Microencapsulation of Probiotics and Its Application as Co-Delivery Systems: Review of Literature

Probiotics are microorganisms that contribute to the microbial balance in the intestine and play an important role in health maintenance.These microorganisms primarily consist of various strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Pediococcus, and yeast.Other probiotics on the market include Saccharomyces, Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Enterococci, and Weissella spp.Probiotics are most commonly found in dairy products, but they can be found in non-dairy products as well.These probiotics are intestinal commensal microorganisms that have been clinically proven to improve human health.They are known to have numerous effects on intestinal function and immune responses, including immunotolerance, and to affect the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the associated immune system.Probiotics have been shown to help prevent and treat digestive disorders like acute, nosocomial, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea; allergic disorders like atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis in infants; and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and some © Engineered Science Publisher LLC 2024| 2 inflammatory bowel abnormalities in adults.Furthermore, probiotics may be useful as coadjuvants in the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes.However, the diverse, heterogeneous, and strain-specific mechanisms of action of probiotics have been given little attention.Probiotics have antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties, anti-infection properties, immune system stimulation, serum cholesterol reduction, alleviation of lactose intolerance, and nutritional enhancement.The current review focuses on the main mechanisms of action of probiotics, microbial delivery limitations, and factors influencing microencapsulation efficiency.Furthermore, the purpose, benefits, and drawbacks of various probiotic encapsulating materials are elaborated.Finally, this review clearly illustrates the applications of microencapsulated probiotics.