On-Chip Precisely Controlled Preparation of Uniform Core–Shell Salmon Byproduct Protein/Polysaccharide Microcapsules for Enhancing Probiotic Survivability in Fruit Juice
Kuiyou Wang, Shasha Huang, Shanghua Xing, Shida Wu, Hongliang Li, Xu Zhong, Na Xin, Mingqian Tan, Wentao Su
Abstract
The increasing demand for probiotic-fortified fruit juices stems from the dietary requirements of individuals with dairy allergies, lactose intolerance, and vegetarian diets. However, a notable obstacle arises from the degradation of probiotics in fruit juices due to their low pH levels and harsh gastrointestinal conditions. In response, this study proposes an innovative approach utilizing a microfluidic chip to create core–shell microcapsules that contain Lactobacillus plantarum Lp90. This method, based on internal–external gelation, forms highly uniform microcapsules that fully enclose the core, which consists of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized by salmon byproduct protein and sodium alginate. These emulsions remain stable for up to 72 h at a 1% sodium alginate concentration. The shell layer incorporates kelp nanocellulose and sodium alginate, thus improving the thermal properties. Furthermore, compared to free probiotics, the multilayer structure of the core–shell microcapsules provides a robust barrier, resulting in significantly enhanced probiotic stability. These findings introduce a novel strategy for augmenting probiotic delivery in functional fruit juice beverages, promising solutions to the challenges encountered during their development.