respectively. Using longer and higher rpm settings of 10 min at
4000 rpm and 5 min at 8000 rpm, greater losses in viability were
detected (Table 3). The average encapsulated viable population
of probiotic bacteria was 7.34 and 7.36 log CFU/mL, respectively
(Table 3). Although the population of probiotic bacteria declined
by approximately 2.93 log CFU/mL; less viable cells were detected
in the surrounding calcium chloridemedium, this resulted in an average
encapsulation efficiency of 56.51% and 55.37%, respectively.
The unaccounted cells were probably lost due to physical shearing
and stress.
The smallest capsules made using the ultra-turrax homogenizer
was from setting of 10 min at 8000 rpm (Table 3). These settings
generated capsules with an average size of 54.4 μm. However, these
settings generated the lowest encapsulation efficiency of 59.60%.
Each strain tested showed similar losses in viability indicating that
all strainswere equally susceptible to shearing stress.However, with
the fastest speed settings for the longest period of time, the average
encapsulated cell viability was reduced to an average of 6.40 log
CFU/mL (Table 3). Interestingly, L. acidophilus survived better than
the other strains tested with a cell count of 6.74 log CFU/mL. This
result suggests that L. acidophilus may be more resilient to shearing
stresses.