Influence of chitosan on some physical properties of the microcapsules containing L. acidophilus

Abstract

Effects of chitosan addition to alginate-starch microcapsule of L. acidophilus were investigated. To the microcapsules prepared by coagulation, chitosan was added in two ways. (1) Sodium alginate-starch and L. acidophilus suspension were dipped in to chitosan-CaCl₂ solution. (2) The alginate-starch microcapsules of L. acidophilus was coated with chitosan solution and spray-dried. Experimentally, chitosan proved protective ability to L. acidophilus under acidic conditions. By IR spectroscopy the microcapsule structure showed stable after incubating at pH 3.0 for 2 hrs, and L. acidophilus strongly sustainable (remaining at 89.55 to 94.15 %). The remaining amount of L. acidophilus in the microcapsules was approximately 10⁸ cfu/g, meeting the WHO/FAO requirements for probiotic preparations.