Exploring the future of probiotics with innovations in delivery systems and market insights

Probiotics play a crucial role in human health, biotechnology, and sustainability, driving continuous innovation in scientific and industrial fields due to their beneficial impacts on gut health, immune modulation, and disease prevention. This review aims to explore recent advances in conventional and non-conventional probiotic microorganisms, focusing on their functional mechanisms, innovative delivery systems, and expanding industrial applications. A structured analysis was conducted by reviewing current scientific literature related to conventional and the emerging non-conventional probiotics, as well as an extensive search on their delivery systems and its benefits from a multidisciplinary viewpoint. Key findings highlight that while conventional probiotics are well-established for their roles in gastrointestinal health and immune support, non-conventional probiotics offer unique metabolic and therapeutic potentials, significantly broadening their applicability in personalized medicine, biotechnology, and environmental sustainability. The review also discusses significant advancements in probiotic encapsulation technologies, which effectively enhance probiotic viability, controlled release, and targeted delivery through the gastrointestinal tract. In conclusion, leveraging both conventional and non-conventional probiotics combined with novel delivery strategies presents promising opportunities for future research, improved commercial products and innovative solutions in human health.