An epitome on encapsulation of probiotics.

Purpose: Nanotechnology is one of the highly evolving fields of research having immense potential in various fields of healthcare sectors. The very advent of nanotechnology lies in its ability to serve as a targeted drug delivery system. The introduction of a new branch namely bionanotechnology has further expanded the scope, especially in the diagnostics and treatment of various diseases. Probiotics being a natural source with a plethora of beneficial properties have been investigated actively in recent days. Probiotics administered into the digestive system have been shown to promote gut health by increasing the microbial balance in the gut. However, the bioavailability of such administered probiotics remains a major concern. These probiotics are protected through microencapsulation techniques, which encapsulate them in small capsules. Several nanoparticles with varied dimensions, forms, surfaces and composites have recently been investigated for probiotic microencapsulation. This has been used for various therapeutic applications, such as drug delivery. This review gives an insight on various materials and strategies used for probiotic encapsulation. Design/methodology/approach: The main aim of this review is to give a perception of the different types of methods of probiotic encapsulation. Findings: This review implies the significance of probiotics and subsequent active release in the gastrointestinal system. Different sections of this review paper, on the other hand, may offer up new opportunities for comprehensive research in the field of microencapsulation for boosting probiotic viability and also talks about the various encapsulating materials that has been employed. Originality/value: This review emphasizes more perceptions about the ongoing and imminent techniques for encapsulating probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]