Improving the stability of a probiotic product with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v by introducing flow pack bags

Probiotic products are becoming more common in everyday use around the world, while at the same time, the interest of scientists in researching probiotic production and use is increasing. Stability of a probiotic product in pharmaceutical production is affected by the choice of probiotic strain, formulation, and packaging. Packaging is the final stage of production and presents a crucial factor for the stability of probiotic products to maintain declared probiotic viability during the products' shelf life. The present research describes the influence of additional packaging material on the encapsulated probiotic product, which contains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v. In specific, the effect of additional blister protection within flow pack bags was investigated. Blisters were made of a chloride/poly-vinylidene chloride/polyethylene-triplex foil (PVC/PVdC/PE foil) and aluminum foil. Viability of probiotic lactobacilli cells protected in blisters only was compared to those packed in flow pack bags filled with nitrogen as an inert gas. Better protection of probiotic cells from oxygen, light, and moisture was determined in the capsules in the latter case. In specific, introduction of additional blister protection in flow pack bags resulted in ~11 % higher probiotic viability when compared to the other blister samples without such protection after 24 months, and therefore it enabled more efficient storage of the product during use.