Table 3 shows the effects of SPI/HMP ratio (5:1, 6:1,
7:1, 8:1 and 9:1 (v/v)) on encapsulating number and
release behaviour in the simulated gastrointestinal
tract under the following conditions. The initial
bacterial concentration was 1.0 9 1010 CFU mL1
(3.1 9 109 CFU mL1
), and 90 mg mL1 SPI (w/v)
solution and 1 mg mL1 HMP (w/v) were used as the
encapsulating materials. The cells were added to the
compound solution at a volume equivalent to that of
the SPI–HMP solution. Table 3 shows that the highest
encapsulation number was observed when the ratio of
SPI/HMP was 5:1 or 7:1 (P < 0.05). However, the
latter ratio resulted in a higher number of live cells in
simulated intestinal fluid (P < 0.05). Therefore, the
optimal ratio was set at 7:1.