Joanne O. Ancajas | Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio
Microencapsulation is among several methods and strategies that are being developed to protect probiotic bacteria against adverse environmental conditions in the stomach and increase their recovery rates. This study aims to determine the potential microencapsulation and delivery of Pediococcus acidilactici in Chitosan/Polyaniline composite, wherein ionic gelation through the extrusion method of microencapsulation is used. It also determined the shelf life and viability of the microencapsulated probiotic. Results show that the optimal CS/PANI ratio that could encapsulate Pediococcus acidilactici is 3%/0.5% extruded in 1% sodium citrate. The number of probiotic cells that have been entrapped per microbead is 1.61 x 106 Cfu/ml ± 0.08. The microencapsulated probiotic was subjected to simulated gastrointestinal (GI) conditions to determine survival through GI transit. The observed cell release of entrapped probiotics in the simulated gastric fluid is considerably higher than expected ranging from 105-106 cumulative value due to the immediate swelling of the CS/PANI microbeads. However, at the end of exposure to the simulated intestinal fluid, the cumulative release is 106-107, indicating potential to be released in the gut. While it was found that the cell viability of microencapsulated (46.23%±0.02) probiotics is low as compared to the free cells (69.64%±0.04) after 30 days of storage at 4oC, the results at 30th day of storage at room temperature showed reciprocal findings for free cells (25.92±0.16) and microencapsulated (33.10±0.13). Therefore, microencapsulation of P. acidilactici can be a considerable means to achieve higher cell viability both in the course of gastrointestinal delivery and storing at room temperature.
ISSN 2719-1990 (Print)
Philippine E-Journals
