Zang Jianwei, Yin Zelin, Ouyang Huidan, Liu Yuanzhi, Liu Zebo, Yin Zhongping
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Foods, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
Nanchang Key Laboratory of Egg Safety Production and Processing Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2025 Jan;24(1):e70111. doi: 10.1111/1541-4337.70111.
Probiotics are highly regarded for their multiple functions, such as regulating gut health, enhancing the immune system, and preventing chronic diseases. However, their stability in harsh environments and targeted release remain significant challenges. Therefore, exploring effective protection and delivery strategies to ensure targeted release of probiotics is critically important. Polysaccharides, known for their non-toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and superior biodegradability, show broad prospects in probiotic delivery by forming physical barriers to protect the probiotics. Particularly, polysaccharide-based gels (PBGs), with their unique "spider-web" like structure, capture and ensure the targeted release of probiotics, significantly enhancing their efficacy. This review discusses common polysaccharides used in PBG preparation, their classification and synthesis in food applications, and the advantages of PBGs as probiotic delivery systems. Despite their potential, challenges such as inconsistent gel properties and the need for improved stability remain. Future research should focus on developing novel PBG materials with higher biodegradability and mechanical strength, optimizing the physicochemical properties and cross-linking methods, as well as designing multilayered structures for more precise release control. Additionally, exploring the co-delivery of probiotics with prebiotics, active ingredients, or multi-strain systems could further enhance the efficacy of probiotic delivery.
益生菌因其多种功能而备受关注，如调节肠道健康、增强免疫系统和预防慢性病。然而，它们在恶劣环境中的稳定性和靶向释放仍然是重大挑战。因此，探索有效的保护和递送策略以确保益生菌的靶向释放至关重要。多糖以其无毒、优异的生物相容性和卓越的生物降解性而闻名，通过形成物理屏障来保护益生菌，在益生菌递送方面展现出广阔前景。特别是，基于多糖的凝胶（PBGs）具有独特的“蜘蛛网”状结构，能够捕获并确保益生菌的靶向释放，显著提高其功效。本文综述了用于制备PBGs的常见多糖、它们在食品应用中的分类和合成，以及PBGs作为益生菌递送系统的优势。尽管它们具有潜力，但仍存在凝胶性质不一致和需要提高稳定性等挑战。未来的研究应专注于开发具有更高生物降解性和机械强度的新型PBG材料，优化其物理化学性质和交联方法，以及设计多层结构以实现更精确的释放控制。此外，探索益生菌与益生元、活性成分或多菌株系统的共同递送可能会进一步提高益生菌递送的功效。
