Development and Characterization of Pectin-Based Colon-Targeted Pellets Containing Lactobacillus Plantarum FNCC-0461

Lactobacillus plantarum FNCC-0461 is a strain of lactic acid bacteria derived from "dadih", a traditional Indonesian food, with significant potential as a probiotic. Particularly, probiotics provide health benefits once a minimum cell viability of 7 log CFU is maintained in the distal ileum and colon. However, most of these live microorganisms are not resistant to harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Encapsulating probiotics in the form of pectin-based colon-targeted pellets offers a promising solution to enhance viability in the presence of extreme GIT conditions while facilitating release to a specific site in the colon. In addition, the pellets were produced through the extrusion-spheronization method using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), lactose, and pectin. Optimizations were conducted by varying the spheronization speed and time, as well as adjusting the total pectin concentration and the type of coating polymer (cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) or shellac) used for the pellet formulation. Subsequently, the morphology, particle size, moisture content, micromeritic properties, process yield, and viability of pellets were evaluated. The release of probiotics from coated and uncoated pellets was examined under simulated colon fluid conditions at pH 1.2, 6.8, and 7.4 for 24 h. The formulation containing MCC, lactose, and pectin in a ratio of 5:4:1, with a spheronization speed of 1500 rpm for 15 min, showed the best pellet characteristics and cell viability. The prepared pellets were spherical, with a particle size distribution of 0.914 ± 0.008 mm, a process yield of 88.71 ± 1.04 %, and viability of 7.50 x 10⁷ cfu/g. Those coated with CAP had the highest probiotic release in simulated colon fluid, reaching 1.38 x 10⁷ CFU/g at 24 h. This research proved that the CAP-coated pellet formulation indicated promising potential for colon-targeted delivery of L. plantarum, offering a means to protect probiotics viability.