Xampla and Quadram Institute to advance probiotic microencapsulation technology

1st November 2024

Xampla and the Quadram Institute have secured funding from by Innovate UK and BBSRC to advance probiotic microencapsulation technology

The Quadram Institute and materials innovation company Xampla and have been awarded Innovate UK and BBSRC grant funding to advance probiotic microencapsulation technology.

The grant will see Xampla and the Quadram Institute collaborate on developing cutting-edge probiotic microcapsules, aimed at improving gut health.

Probiotics are highly sensitive to factors such as oxygen exposure, pH imbalance, and pasteurisation, making it challenging to maintain their viability from production through shelf-life and digestion.

Traditionally, the industry has been limited to the products they can add probiotics to, and the strains they can use. Xampla’s microencapsulation technology will protect probiotics throughout manufacturing, transit, and storage, ensuring they reach consumers with full efficacy.

This innovation aims to extend the shelf-life of refrigerated and ambient probiotics while ensuring enteric release once consumed, maximising health benefits.

Xampla’s microencapsulation technology has proven effective in protecting vitamin D in fortified drinks for Britvic, a leading soft drinks company. This technology ensures product stability even under challenging conditions, such as sunlight exposure.

The global probiotics market is expected to see rapid growth in the coming years, projected to increase from £77 billion in 2024 to £170 billion in 2030. This surge in demand underscores the importance of innovative solutions, which address key challenges in probiotic delivery and offer new opportunities for product development and consumer health benefits.

Backed by 15 years of research at the University of Cambridge, Xampla is recognised for pioneering the development of the world’s first natural plant polymer materials for commercial applications.

Model colon technology will assess probiotic microencapsulation technology

Professor Arjan Narbad and his translational microbiome research group in the Quadram Institute will bring their expertise in studying the microbial ecology of the gut and its microbiome to the project. Using state-of-the-art facilities they will model and measure how microencapsulated probiotics in a various consumer products impact the microbiome.

Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, said: “Our nutrient microencapsulation technology has already demonstrated remarkable success in encapsulating sensitive compounds such as vitamins. With this grant funding, we aim to advance the probiotic market by ensuring that vital ingredients for gut health can be seamlessly integrated into everyday products.”

Dr Roberto Zanchi, Head of Business Development and Commercialisation at the Quadram Institute said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Xampla to broaden its microencapsulation technology specifically for probiotics. This partnership will drive forward advancements in improving shelf-life and viability of probiotics, enhancing their efficacy and ultimately improving health outcomes for consumers.”

 

Related Targets

Targeting the understanding of the microbiome

Understanding the Microbiome

Related Research Groups

Narbad group

Arjan Narbad

Related Research Areas

A green background with an illustration of a gut full of microbes.

Food, Microbiome and Health