Abstract
Probiotics have gained significant attention in recent years due to the growing awareness of physical health and well-being. However, maintaining high concentrations of probiotics throughout the product's shelf life and during the gastrointestinal tract is crucial for ensuring their health-promoting effects. After determining an optimal formulation through a fractional factorial model, this study optimizes probiotic Bacillus Clausii delivery through spray-drying microencapsulation using a novel maltodextrin-alginate-inulin (MDX-ALG-IN) formulation (optimized ratio: 7:2:1). Notably, this formulation exclusively comprises non-digestible carbohydrates, marking a novel approach in probiotic encapsulation. Achieving a high Product Yield (51.06 %) and Encapsulation Efficiency (80.53 %), the study employed SEM for morphological analysis, revealing an irregular form and extensive surface in dentations characteristic of maltodextrin involvement. With a low moisture content of 3.02 % (±0.23 %) and 90.52 % solubility, the powder displayed exceptional properties. Probiotic viability remained robust, surviving up to 60 % even after 180 days at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C. Thermal characterization unveiled microcapsule resilience, exhibiting a glass transition temperature (Tg) at 138.61 °C and a melting point of 177.28 °C. The study systematically addresses crucial aspects of microencapsulation, including formulation optimization, morphological characteristics, and powder properties. Notably, the MDX-ALG-IN microcapsules demonstrated stability in simulated gastrointestinal conditions, indicating potential application for supplements and complex food matrices. In summary, this research contributes to microencapsulation understanding, emphasizing the MDX-ALG-IN formulation's efficacy in preserving probiotic viability across production stages and simulated digestive processes.