Mitsuwan Watcharapong, Romyasamit Chonticha, Kimseng Rungruedee, Mahawan Tanakamol, Vimon Sasi
Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
Vet World. 2025 Jul;18(7):2039-2050. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.2039-2050. Epub 2025 Jul 27.
Probiotic viability remains a critical challenge during gastrointestinal (GI) transit, storage, and feed processing. Conventional encapsulation materials often fail under acidic and thermal stress. This study aimed to develop and characterize a novel, eco-friendly microencapsulation system using (FP) seed extract as a natural encapsulating matrix for (LP) WU2502, enhancing its functional resilience and storage stability.
Microcapsules containing LP and FP were formulated through ionic gelation using calcium chloride. Physicochemical properties were assessed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR). Functional evaluations included encapsulation efficiency (EE), swelling kinetics, controlled release in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, stress tolerance (acid, bile, enzymes, thermal), and viability during 60-day storage at 4°C and 25°C.
The LP/FP microcapsules demonstrated high EE (80.5%) and spherical morphology (~200μm). FTIR confirmed the presence of ionic and hydrogen bonding in the matrix. The system exhibited pH-responsive swelling and controlled release, reaching 89.17% cumulative release in intestinal fluid. Encapsulated cells showed significantly improved tolerance to acidic pH, bile salts, digestive enzymes, and heat compared to free cells (p < 0.05). After 60 days, the viability of encapsulated cells remained above 60% at both storage temperatures, while free cell viability dropped by over 85%.
FP seed extract offers a biodegradable, plant-derived alternative for probiotic encapsulation. The developed LP/FP system effectively enhances probiotic survival under GI and thermal stress and during extended storage. These results support its application as a sustainable delivery platform for animal feed and functional food formulations.
益生菌在胃肠道转运、储存及饲料加工过程中的生存能力仍是一项严峻挑战。传统的包封材料在酸性和热应激条件下往往失效。本研究旨在开发并表征一种新型的、生态友好的微胶囊系统，该系统使用（FP）种子提取物作为（LP）WU2502的天然包封基质，增强其功能弹性和储存稳定性。
通过氯化钙离子凝胶法制备含有LP和FP的微胶囊。使用扫描电子显微镜和傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）评估其物理化学性质。功能评价包括包封效率（EE）、溶胀动力学、在模拟胃液和肠液中的控释、应激耐受性（酸、胆汁、酶、热）以及在4℃和25℃下储存60天期间的生存能力。
LP/FP微胶囊显示出高包封效率（80.5%）和球形形态（约200μm）。FTIR证实基质中存在离子键和氢键。该系统表现出pH响应性溶胀和控释，在肠液中的累积释放率达到89.17%。与游离细胞相比，包封的细胞对酸性pH、胆盐、消化酶和热的耐受性显著提高（p<0.05）。60天后，在两个储存温度下，包封细胞的生存能力均保持在60%以上，而游离细胞的生存能力下降超过85%。
FP种子提取物为益生菌包封提供了一种可生物降解的、植物来源的替代物。所开发的LP/FP系统有效地提高了益生菌在胃肠道和热应激条件下以及长期储存期间的存活率。这些结果支持其作为动物饲料和功能性食品配方的可持续递送平台的应用。
