Phospholipid microencapsulation technology prolongs the activity of probiotics

Phospholipid microencapsulation technology is an effective means to extend the activity of probiotics, and it is widely used in food, medicine and other fields. It mainly functions by forming protective barriers, controlling release, etc., as follows:

Providing a protective barrier: Phospholipids are amphiphilic and can self-assemble to form a phospholipid bilayer microcapsule structure. Gastric acid and bile salts are the main threats to probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. Phospholipid microcapsules can wrap probiotics, isolate the gastric acid environment, and reduce the degradation of probiotics by acid. At the same time, they can also resist the erosion of bile salts, maintain the integrity of the probiotic cell membrane, thereby improving the survival rate of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. For example, studies have shown that phosphatidylserine embedding can increase the survival rate of probiotics in the intestine by more than 30%.

Controlling the release of probiotics: Phospholipid microcapsules can realize the slow release of probiotics and extend their action time in the intestine. The structure and composition of microcapsules can affect the release rate. By adjusting the type of phospholipids and adding auxiliary ingredients, probiotics can be gradually released in specific parts of the intestine, increasing their contact time with the intestinal mucosa, enhancing the adhesion and colonization ability of probiotics in the colon, and better exerting probiotic functions such as regulating intestinal flora.

Improving shelf-life stability: During the storage of probiotic products, external environments such as temperature, humidity, and oxygen will affect their activity. Phospholipid microcapsules can isolate external adverse factors, reduce the contact between probiotics and oxygen, moisture, etc., reduce their metabolic activities, and thus maintain high activity during the shelf life. For example, Yili's middle-aged and elderly milk powder uses microencapsulation protection technology formed by soybean phospholipids to ensure the activity of Bifidobacterium animalis strain Bb-12 during the shelf life.

Enhancing biocompatibility and targeting: Phospholipids are the main components of cell membranes, with good biocompatibility, which will not cause immune reactions in the body, allowing probiotics to play a role in the body more safely. In addition, by modifying the surface of phospholipid microcapsules, they can be targeted, guiding probiotics to reach specific parts of the intestine, increasing the concentration and activity of probiotics in the target area, and regulating the intestinal microecology more accurately.