Improvement of the stability of Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 by microencapsulation using alginate and chitosan

Abstract

Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 was microencapsulated within alginate or alginate/chitosan double membrane using an air atomizer. Microbiological analysis revealed that the viability of encapsulated L. casei in gastric juice, hydrogen peroxide, and pepsin was 2-3 log cycle higher than that of the nonencapsulated cell. However, the encapsulated cells did not show a significant increase in survival when subjected to in vitro high acid and 0.6% bile salt condition. Alginate-encapsulated, alginate/chitosan-encapsulated, and nonencapsulated cells were stored at different temperatures and storage stability was determined. Nonencapsulated and encapsulated cells showed similar stability at 4°C. However, at 22°C, the alginate/chitosan-encapsulated cell was the most stable.