<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> Encapsulated in Calcium-Alginate Hydrogelated Matrix: Viability and Stability over Aerobic Storage and Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions

oleh: Daniela Machado, Mariana Fonseca, Rita Vedor, Sérgio Sousa, Joana Cristina Barbosa, Ana Maria Gomes

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-11-01

Deskripsi

<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> is considered a next-generation probiotic to be incorporated in new food and pharmaceutical formulations. Effective delivery systems are required to ensure high probiotic viability and stability during product manufacture, shelf-life, and post-consumption, namely, throughout digestion. Hydrogelated matrices have demonstrated promising potential in this dominion. Hence, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of a calcium-alginate hydrogelated matrix on <i>A. muciniphila</i> viability during 28-days refrigerated aerobic storage and when exposed to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, in comparison with that of free cells. <i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> was successfully encapsulated in the calcium-alginate matrix via extrusion (60% encapsulation yield). Furthermore, encapsulated <i>A. muciniphila</i> exhibited high stability (a loss in viability lower than 0.2 log-cycle) after 28-days of refrigerated aerobic storage, maintaining its viability around 10<sup>8</sup> CFU/g. Prominently, as the storage time increased, encapsulated <i>A. muciniphila</i> revealed higher viability and stability regarding in vitro gastrointestinal conditions than free cells. This suggests that this encapsulation method may attenuate the detrimental effects of prolonged aerobic storage with a subsequent gastrointestinal passage. In conclusion, encapsulation via extrusion using a calcium-alginate hydrogelated matrix seems to be a promising and adequate strategy for safeguarding <i>A. muciniphila</i> from adverse conditions encountered during refrigerated aerobic storage and when exposed to the gastrointestinal passage.