| 主权项 |
1. A probiotic substance comprising viable probiotic bacteria embedded in a dried matrix, wherein the dried matrix is a mixture comprising:
at least one sugar, wherein the at least one sugar comprises trehalose, wherein the total amount of sugar in the dried matrix is from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the dried matrix; at least one protein, wherein the total amount of protein in the dried matrix is from about 2% to about 20% by weight of the dried matrix and wherein the at least one protein comprises egg white, soy protein isolate, soy protein hydrolysate, pea protein hydrolysate, or a combination thereof; at least one polysaccharide, wherein the at least one polysaccharide comprises an alginate; and optionally additional functional ingredients; wherein the total amount of polysaccharide in the dried matrix is from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the dried matrix; wherein the probiotic substance is prepared by a process comprising: a) mixing the probiotic bacteria with the at least one sugar, the at least one protein, the at least one polysaccharide and optionally the additional functional ingredients to obtain a slurry, and optionally adding a crosslinking chemical to form a gel in a desired shape and form; and b) vacuum drying the slurry or the gel, wherein the vacuum drying comprises setting the temperature of the probiotic substance above its freezing temperature and vacuum drying at reduced pressure at a shelf temperature of from 5-50° C. and then gradually decreasing the pressure, as the temperature of the probiotic substance increases, down to a pressure of about 100mTorr while maintaining the shelf temperature from 5-50° C. |
