Probiotic products are easiest to ship and store in powder form, yet the high temperatures and dehydration stress of spray drying often inactivate a large proportion of the cells. Reducing cell damage while maintaining drying efficiency remains the main bottleneck in commercializing powdered probiotic products.
Research Background
Methods
A selected lactic acid bacteria strain was used, with three inlet air temperatures (130 °C, 150 °C, and 170 °C) and a comparison of maltodextrin alone against carrier formulations combining maltodextrin with trehalose and whey protein. After drying, moisture content, particle size distribution, and viable cell counts were measured, followed by a twelve-week storage trial at 25 °C.
Results
An inlet air temperature of 130 °C combined with the composite carrier gave the highest post-drying survival rate, clearly outperforming the high-temperature single-carrier groups. After twelve weeks of storage, the composite carrier group also showed a smaller decline in viable cell counts, and powder moisture content remained within a more stable range.
Applications
These findings can serve as a basis for adjusting probiotic powder manufacturing processes, helping producers balance throughput against quality. The composite carrier strategy can also be extended to the powderization of other heat-sensitive active ingredients.
