The Formulation of Low Methoxyl Pectin-Based Polyelectrolyte Complexes for Colonic Coating of Probiotic Cells

Polyelectrolyte Complex (PEC) was formed by a cross-linking process of different charges of two or more polymers with cation. The structure of a three-dimensional network of PEC facilitated encapsulation of probiotic cells. Some natural poly-ions belonging to polysaccharides and proteins were used for the PEC formation extensively. This study was aimed to obtain a positively charged polyelectrolyte complex as a colonic coating for probiotic cells using Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique. This research was undertaken in completely randomized design with three replicates. Treatments comprised formulas containing the composition of Low Methoxyl Pectin (LMP), lysine and diethylamine at different levels of chitosan concentration (T1: chitosan of 0.050%, T2: chitosan of 0.075%; T3: chitosan of 0.100%) compared with control (T0: chitosan of 0%). Results showed that the treatments contributed to viscosity and nitrogen content of PEC. This research gained the best result on T3, where the use of chitosan of 0.100% in the formula made up of LMP, chitosan, lysine and diethylamine characterized by stable positive charges, nitrogen content of 0.00688% and viscosity of 18.53 cP. The application of LMP polyelectrolite (LMPpe) complex of the T3 for probiotic cells coating resulted in good viability until it reached colon with population of 7.67 log cfu/mL (4.67x107 cfu/mL).