Microencapsulation for Delivery of Probiotic Bacteria

In this era of modernization and hectic lifestyles, consumers demand functional foods providing nutrients with physiological and health benefits. Probiotics belong to this in-demand category of functional and nutraceutical foods. Probiotics are selected viable microorganisms, administered in particular amounts, that provide numerous benefits. However, the viability of the microorganisms in harsh thermal processing, storage conditions, and the acid/bile conditions of the gastrointestinal tract is a major concern for the food industry. Microencapsulation technology can provide suitable carriers for probiotics to improve their viability and targeted release. Probiotic encapsulation technology can protect probiotic microorganisms from the hostile conditions of the digestive system. Research is under way to design suitable coating materials and technology for microcapsule preparation. This chapter discusses methods of microencapsulation and improvements in probiotic delivery in the human system.