The Department of Biotechnology’s Biotech Consortium India Limited is offering licensing opportunity to suitable industrial partners for commercialization of novel probiotic edible films/coatings with higher shelf life.

Commercial probiotics are available in different forms from dried powder, sprays, and dietary supplements in liquid form, to fortified curd, yoghurt, and ice creams in Indian market. However, the probiotic lactic acid bacteria show poor survival in such forms and often do not reach live into human gut to give the best benefits.

Commercial probiotics are available in different forms from dried powder, sprays, and dietary supplements in liquid form, to fortified curd, yoghurt, and ice creams in Indian market.

Biotech Consortium India Limited has come out with an offer for commercialization of a new technique that promises to help prolong the shelf life of probiotics. The invention provides for encapsulation of probiotic strains with food grade edible strips and coatings of thin layered biopolymers made from milk proteins and plant based waxy substances. The novel films/coatings have potential to keep the probiotics active for a shelf life of one month stored at 4oC.

Proof of concept of the technology has been established in a lab setup, and in house lab validation has been completed. Looking at a USD $69.3 billion market for probiotics by 2023, the technology has got huge market potential both in India and outside. The technology has wide application and can be used for production of dahi, yogurt, fruit coatings, bakery and production of non dairy products as well. India Science Wire