This study reports a novel carrier based on blends of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and k-carrageenan (k-Carr) for probiotic colon delivery. Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC:13643 (L. plantarum) cells were encapsulated in CMC/k-Carr blends by extrusion method. k-Carrageenan was used as a coating agent to improve encapsulation of L. plantarum cells in carboxymethyl cellulose biopolymer. K-Carrageenan and carboxymethyl cellulose were ionically cross-linked with K+ and Ca2+ ions, respectively. Optical and scanning electron microscopy obviously showed the random distribution of L. plantarum cells throughout the blend network. The viability of encapsulated cells in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and bile salt solution were conducted. Results indicated that CMC/k-Carr blends could successfully protect L. plantarum cells against adverse conditions of the gastro–intestinal tract and bile salt solution. After sequential exposure to SGF for 2 h almost complete death of free cells was observed. However, the number of surviving cells was 5.20 and 7.30 Log CFU/g for uncoated free CMC and CMC/k-Carr blends, respectively. Cumulatively the results of this research offer a suitable media to potentially deliver probiotics to colon site.
