Encapsulation of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> ATCC 8014 and <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> ATCC 8042 in a freeze-dried alginate-gum arabic system and its <i>in vitro</i> testing under gastrointestinal conditions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the viability of <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> ATCC 8042 and <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> ATCC 8014 in a freeze-dried capsules system prepared with sodium alginate and gum arabic using the extrusion technique. The capsules made with alginate 2% (w/v)/gum arabic 2% (w/v) showed higher hardness (7.12 ± 0.71 N), with highly cohesive (0.81 ± 0.02) and elastic (0.99 ± 0.00) features on the Texture Profile Analysis (TPA), as well as higher sphericity with 1.75 ± 0.12 mm y 1.73 ± 0.13 mm diameter axes and regularity in their surface by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The use of skimmed milk at 10% as a cryoprotector in the freeze-drying process allowed the obtention of high viability percentages (88% a 96%) for both strains. Best results of viability for <i>P. acidilactici</i> encapsulated was with the use of alginate 2% (w/v)/gum arabic 2% (w/v) (92%±2.65), and <i>L. plantarum</i> with the use of alginate 2% (w/v) (84.71%±10.33) during the gastrointestinal environment challenge.