Wood hemicelluloses are currently treated as low-value by-products of the pulp and paper industry. The development of value-added applications of hemicelluloses for producing new advanced products will boost forestry operations, promote economic growth, and secure employment in rural areas. The SynCap project will investigate the applicability of wood hemicelluloses as coating materials to develop new spray-dried probiotic microcapsules to support the targeted delivery of probiotics. Prebiotic properties of hemicelluloses enable synbiotics of the microcapsule powders. Characteristics of microcapsule walls formed during spray drying, and their relation to probiotic survival are explored to design the stable microcapsule powders and optimise the production process. The powder properties including storage stability, and probiotic survival and release under simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions are also studied to provide insight into their storage and applications.

2022

2025