LAUSR

BACKGROUND Co-encapsulation of probiotics and omega-3 oil using complex coacervation is an effective method to enhance the tolerance of probiotics under adverse conditions, while complex coacervation of omega-3 oil was found to have low lipid digestibility. In this study, gelatin (GE, 30g kg-1) and gum arabic (GA, 30g kg-1) were used to encapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 and algal oil by complex coacervation to produce microcapsules containing probiotics (GE-P-GA) and co-microcapsules containing probiotics and algal oil (GE-P-O-GA), and soy lecithin (SL) was added to probiotics-algal oil complex coacervates (GE-P-O(SL)-GA) to enhance its stability and lipolysis. Then, we evaluated the viability of different microencapsulated probiotics exposed to freeze-drying and long-term storage, as well as the survival rate and release performance of encapsulated probiotics and algal oil during in-vitro digestion. RESULTS GE-P-O(SL)-GA had smaller particle size (51.20 μm), higher freeze-drying survival (90.06%) of probiotics and encapsulation efficiency of algal oil (75.74%). Moreover, GE-P-O(SL)-GA showed higher algal oil release rate (79.54%), lipolysis degree (74.63%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) lipolysis efficiency (64.8%) in vitro digestion model. The viability of microencapsulated probiotics after simulated digestion and long-term storage at -18,4 and 25°Cexhibited in the order GE-P-O(SL)-GA > GE-P-O-GA > GE-P-GA. CONCLUSIONS SL due its amphiphilic properties strongly affected physicochemical properties of probiotics and algal oil complex coacervates, resulting to higher stability and more effective lipolysis. Thus, the GE-P-O(SL)-GA can more effectively deliver probiotics and DHA to the intestine, which provides a reference for the preparation of high-viability and high-lipolysis probiotics-algal oil microcapsules. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.