Encapsulation of Listeria phage A511 by alginate to improve its thermal stability

Abstract

Microencapsulation is a versatile method for enhancing the stability of bacteriophages under harsh conditions, such as those which occur during thermal processing. For food applications, encapsulation in food-grade polymer matrices is desirable owing to their nontoxicity and low cost. Here, we describe the encapsulation of Listeria phage A511 using sodium alginate, gum arabic, and gelatin to maximize its viability during thermal processing.