Amandeep Singh¹*, Rohit Bhatia² and Simranjeet Kaur³

¹Departments of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
²Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
³Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, PCTE Group of Institutes, Baddowal, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

*Corresponding Author: Amandeep Singh, Assistant Professor, Departments of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.

Received: February 13, 2021; Published: March 29, 0221

   Over the past decades, the administration of probiotics has gained much attention. As per the definition of probiotics by WHO, these are living microorganisms used for the management of various diseases [1]. In the market various strains of probiotics are available. Depends on the properties of these probiotics stains they are used in the management of various diseases. Probiotic plays an imperative role in the prevention of ulcerative colitis. Probiotics guard the intestinal mucosal layer against the attack of microbes. Additionally, it also serves as immunoglobulins. Probiotics also having anti-oxidant and inflammatory properties. But it is evident that in the case of ulcerative colitis, the concentration of probiotics is reduced at the colonic site therefore probiotic formulations are given to the patients to manage the disease [2]. But the problems with the conventional probiotic formulation are their viability. The health benefits of probiotics are purely dependent on the viability and enough number of probiotics in the target intestine.

   Maintaining the probiotic viability in the stomach is an additional difficult task for probiotics to reach the target site because most of the probiotics die or lose their functionality at acidic conditions [1,3]. Next, survived probiotics should be released at the target site of action which is usually the small or large intestine. Therefore, an ideal probiotic delivery system should protect probiotics from adverse conditions during fabrication and storage and in the acidic gastric environment so that a sufficient amount of probiotics is available in the site of action.

   For the survival of probiotics during storage and transit through the digestive system, microencapsulation is necessary. Probiotics must be encapsulated because they are sensitive to conditions such as air, humidity, temperature, gastric pH, or bile salt. Probiotic encapsulation technology is a stirring field of bio pharmacy that has emerged and developed rapidly from the past decade. Based on this technology, the availability of cells has been modulated by a large range of micro-organisms in semi-permeable and biocompatible materials [4].

   In the most published literature interchangeable words immobilization, entanglement and encapsulation were used. Although encapsulation is the process of forming an internal matrix that is fully embedded within the capsule wall, immobilization refers to the trapping of material in or around a matrix. Encapsulation helps to regulate cell development, storage and handling, potentially improving cells' viability and stability [5]. An immobilized environment also provides additional protection during rehydration for probiotic cells. Controlled and continuing delivery of cells in the intestines is the strongest use of encapsulation in bio pharmacy [6]. Despite acidity in the stomach, the possible advantage of this therapeutic approach is retained cell viability. By utilizing the encapsulation techniques the efficiency of probiotics can be enhanced by protecting them from harsh acidic environments.