Lyophilization of Probiotics Preserving Viability and Extending Shelf Life
Lyophilization of probiotics presents significant technical challenges due to the sensitivity of microbial cells to processing stresses. Conventional freeze-drying cycles subject bacteria to temperature extremes from -40°C to +25°C, osmotic pressure fluctuations during ice crystal formation, and desiccation stresses that compromise cell membrane integrity. These stresses typically reduce viable cell counts by 1-2 log CFU/g, with survival rates varying dramatically between species—Lactobacillus strains often demonstrating 10-fold higher resilience than Bifidobacterium species under identical processing conditions.
The fundamental challenge lies in balancing process parameters that ensure adequate moisture removal for shelf stability while preserving the structural integrity and metabolic capabilities of living probiotic cells.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including specialized lyoprotectant formulations incorporating urea-monosaccharide compositions, controlled pH adjustment techniques for enhanced bacterial robustness, protein-coated microencapsulation systems, and electrospray drying methods under controlled atmospheres. These and other approaches focus on practical implementation strategies that maximize post-processing viability while ensuring consistent product performance throughout intended shelf life.
1. Electrospray Drying Method for Anaerobic Bacteria Encapsulation into Low-Moisture Powder
AXIOTA U S INC, 2025
Electrospray drying of anaerobic bacteria into a stable powder for animal feed applications, using low heat and controlled atmosphere conditions to preserve viability and stability of the microorganisms. The method involves preparing a bacterial culture, forming a slurry with a carrier, applying an electrostatic charge, atomizing the slurry, and drying the droplets in a controlled atmosphere chamber. The resulting powder contains encapsulated bacteria with less than 15% moisture content, suitable for use in animal feed to prevent lactic acidosis and promote digestive health.
2. Spray-Dried Probiotic Composition with Prebiotic and Coating Material
AGENCY SCIENCE TECH & RES, 2025
A spray-dried composition for delivering probiotics in food products, comprising a prebiotic, a probiotic, and a coating material. The composition is prepared by spray drying a solution containing the prebiotic, probiotic, and coating material, and can be tailored to various food matrices. The composition exhibits improved probiotic viability and stability compared to conventional drying methods, enabling the delivery of live microbes in adequate amounts to exert a functional effect within the body.
3. Lyophilized Microbial Soil Amendment with Brewer's Yeast and Processed Honey Nutrient Matrix
STEVEN SHOUP, 2024
A water-soluble, lyophilized microbial soil amendment that enhances plant growth and soil health through a diverse population of beneficial microorganisms. The amendment is produced by combining brewer's yeast and processed honey as a nutrient-rich food source, which supports the growth of a broad spectrum of beneficial microbes. The yeast and honey mixture is formulated to maintain a stable pH environment that promotes balanced microbial growth, and is then lyophilized to create a powder that is 100% soluble in water. The resulting product can be easily rehydrated and applied to soil using conventional agricultural sprayers.
4. System of Coated Micromagmatics with Adhered Microorganisms on Glass Microparticles
BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE LLC, 2024
A system for deploying microorganisms to a target environment comprises a plurality of coated micromagmatics formed by adhering a microorganism to a glass microparticle. The system can be deployed in various ways, including as an aerosol, liquid suspension, or solid matrix. The micromagmatics can be lyophilized and stored for later use, and can be engineered for specific applications such as subsurface deployment or wastewater treatment. The system enables efficient and easy deployment of beneficial microorganisms for bioremediation, agriculture, and other applications.
5. Methods for pH Adjustment of Bacterial Cultures Post-Fermentation for Enhanced Robustness
CHR HANSEN AS, 2024
Methods for preparing bacterial cultures that improve their robustness against downstream processing steps such as freezing and drying. The methods involve adjusting the pH of the bacterial culture to a range of 6.0-8.0 after fermentation termination, rather than maintaining the acidic pH typical of fermentation. This pH adjustment enables the bacteria to withstand freezing and drying processes more effectively, resulting in improved viability and activity retention.
6. Cell Preservation Method Using Urea-Monosaccharide Composition with Bulking Agent and Hydrogel
LONZA AG, 2024
Methods for cryoprotecting and lyoprotecting cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, for long-term storage. The methods involve suspending cells in a composition containing urea, a monosaccharide, and an aqueous component, and then freezing or lyophilizing the composition. The composition can also include a bulking agent, such as sucrose and mannitol, and a hydrogel, such as hyaluronan. The frozen or lyophilized cells can be reconstituted in a reconstitution agent to form a viable cell population.
7. Genomic insights and functional evaluation of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei EG005: a promising probiotic with enhanced antioxidant activity
Jisu Kim, Jinchul Jo, Seoae Cho - Frontiers Media SA, 2024
Probiotics, such as
8. Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Produce Bioactive Components during Formulation in Sucrose
L. Lundberg, Manuel Mata Forsberg, James Lemanczyk - MDPI AG, 2024
Improved efficacy of probiotics can be achieved by using different strategies, including the optimization of production parameters. The impact of fermentation parameters on bacterial physiology is a frequently investigated topic, but what happens during the formulation, i.e., the step where the lyoprotectants are added prior to freeze-drying, is less studied. In addition to this, the focus of process optimization has often been yield and stability, while effects on bioactivity have received less attention. In this work, we investigated different metabolic activities of the probiotic strain
9. Heat-Treated Beverage with Encapsulated Probiotics in Protein-Coated Microparticles
ANABIO TECH LTD, 2024
Shelf-stable, heat-treated beverage containing encapsulated probiotics that can be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods without spoilage. The beverage contains microparticles with live probiotics encapsulated within. The microparticles are made by coating a core of sub-microparticles containing the probiotics with denatured protein using a fluidized bed process. This prevents leakage and degradation of the probiotics during heat treatment and storage. The encapsulated probiotics survive UHT processing and maintain viability for 24 months at room temperature.
10. Production Method for Freeze-Dried Probiotic Composition with Controlled Fermentation and Lyoprotectant Integration
BLUESTONE PHARMA GMBH, 2024
A method for producing a freeze-dried probiotic composition comprising Streptococcus salivarius, particularly S. salivarius K12, ENT-K12, M18, and M18DF, through large-scale fermentation in a controlled environment. The method involves cultivating the bacteria in a growth medium containing dextrose, yeast extract, and ascorbate, with controlled pH and oxygen levels, followed by concentration, lyoprotectant addition, and freeze-drying to produce a stable powder. The composition is suitable for use in various probiotic products, including oral care and dietary supplements.
11. Anaerobic Microorganism Preservation Compositions with Viscosity Modifier, Energy Source, and Specific Redox Potential Range
ARRANTA BIO HOLDINGS LLC, 2024
Compositions for preserving anaerobic microorganisms, including cryopreservatives, comprising a viscosity modifier, an energy source, and a redox potential in the range of -50 mV to -500 mV. The compositions maintain viability and facilitate rapid recovery of anaerobic microorganisms during storage and administration, enabling effective modulation of the gastrointestinal microbiome.
12. Improvement of Stress Resistance of Microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum by Emulsion Electrospinning
Yuehan Wu, Shanshan Zhang, Ziyou Yan - MDPI AG, 2024
Probiotics have become increasingly recognized for their potential health-promoting properties; however, the viability of probiotics can be affected by storage and transportation processes as well as the stressful environment of the human digestive tract, preventing them from achieving effective concentration (10
13. Microencapsulated Microbial Cultures with Non-Homogeneous Encapsulation Matrix Containing Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Antioxidants
CHR HANSEN AS, 2024
Microencapsulated microbial cultures with enhanced storage stability at elevated temperatures, comprising a microbial culture entrapped in a coacervate comprising a non-homogeneous encapsulation matrix with a high ratio of matrix material to core material, wherein the matrix material includes carbohydrates, proteins, and antioxidants. The microencapsulated cultures exhibit preserved viability over extended periods of storage at temperatures up to 37°C, enabling applications in products where refrigerated storage is not feasible.
14. Probiotic Granule with Hydrophobic Solid Dispersion Coating and Water-Soluble Polymeric Stress Absorber
AMD PHARMA LTD, 2024
A probiotic granule comprising a core of probiotic bacteria coated with a single continuous layer of a hydrophobic solid dispersion containing a water-soluble polymeric stress absorber. The stress absorber is dispersed within a hydrophobic solid component such as fat, wax, or fatty acid, and provides mechanical protection and controlled dissolution of the granule. The granule enables prolonged survival of the probiotics during storage and passage through the gastrointestinal tract, and can be used in a variety of food products.
15. Probiotic Microcapsule Preparation Using Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Coating and Lyophilization
SHAOXING TONGCHUANG BIOTECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2024
A probiotic microcapsule preparation method that produces uniform microcapsules with controlled particle size, high encapsulation efficiency, and resistance to gastric acids and high temperatures. The method involves coating probiotic bacteria with a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution containing a coating material, followed by lyophilization. The resulting microcapsules exhibit improved survival ratios and stability compared to conventional methods.
16. Preserving probiotic potency: A comparative study of storage methods for Lactobacillus fermentum MT308789 And Lactobacillus oris MT308790
Shradhdha Mansukhlal Gondaliya, D. V. Bhensdadia - GSC Online Press, 2024
Probiotics, comprising living microorganisms like Lactobacillus fermentum MT308789 and Lactobacillus oris MT308790, offer significant health benefits when consumed regularly. However, the efficacy of probiotics heavily relies on their viability and stability during storage. Various storage methods, including agar slant, glycerol stocks, lyophilization, and dry form, are utilized to preserve probiotic viability. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of these storage methods in maintaining the viability of probiotic strains. Our findings demonstrate that lyophilization emerged as the most effective method, yielding the highest viabilities for both strains [77.51 %]. Glycerol stocks also showed promise for short-to-medium-term storage, while agar slants and dry form storage exhibited suboptimal viability. These results underscore the importance of selecting appropriate storage methods to ensure the delivery of viable and effective probiotic formulations to consumers.
17. Viability of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Encapsulated by Ionic Gelation during Refractance Window® Drying of a Strawberry Snack
Esmeralda S. Mosquera-Vivas, Alfredo Ayala-Aponte, Liliana Serna‐Cock - MDPI AG, 2024
The selection of appropriate probiotic strains is vital for their successful inclusion in foods. These strains must withstand processing to reach consumers with 10
18. Dry Composition of Lactic Acid Bacteria with Synergistic Stabilizer Blend of Oligofructans, Maltodextrin, Inulin, and Pea Fiber
CHR HANSEN AS, 2024
A dry composition of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with enhanced storage stability, comprising LAB cells and a synergistic stabilizer blend of oligofructans, maltodextrin, inulin, and/or pea fiber. The stabilizer blend provides cryoprotection, lyoprotection, and storage stability to the LAB cells, enabling long-term viability and shelf life. The composition is suitable for use in infant formulas, dietary supplements, and other food products.
19. Encapsulation of Microbial Cultures in High-Melting-Point Fat Matrix for Enhanced Stability
CHR HANSEN AS, 2024
Encapsulation of microbial cultures, such as lactic acid bacteria, in a fat matrix to improve their stability and viability during storage and processing. The encapsulated cultures retain viability through pasteurization and subsequent storage at ambient temperature, enabling their direct addition to dairy products without refrigeration. The encapsulation matrix comprises one or more fat components with a melting point of at least 30°C, which protects the cells from heat and prevents post-acidification during storage.
20. Porous Glass-Based Substrate for Lyophilized Biofilm Microorganism Storage and Delivery
BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE LLC, 2024
A solid, porous glass-based substrate for storing and delivering microorganisms, particularly beneficial bacteria, in a lyophilized biofilm format. The substrate, which can be a natural or synthetic foamed glass or glass ceramic, supports the growth of microorganisms into a dense biofilm that can be lyophilized and stored for later deployment. The lyophilized biofilm can be easily transported and applied to a site of use, where it can regrow and provide beneficial effects such as bioremediation.
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