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Emerging Nonthermal Technologies for the Production of Postbiotics

Summary

Postbiotics are dead or inactivated beneficial microorganisms and their components that support human health without needing to survive in the gut. Traditional heat-killing methods damage these beneficial compounds. This comprehensive review explores six emerging technologies that can produce postbiotics while better preserving their health-promoting properties, making them more stable and effective for food and supplement applications.

Background

Postbiotics are nonliving microbial cells and their components that confer health benefits to the host. Conventional heat-killing methods used for postbiotic production result in denaturation of bioactive metabolites and loss of functional properties. Emerging nonthermal technologies offer promising alternatives to preserve bioactive compounds while ensuring microbial safety.

Objective

This review examines how emerging nonthermal technologies perform compared to conventional thermal methods in producing postbiotics, with emphasis on their suitability for industrial-scale implementation. The review evaluates key nonthermal technologies including high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, ultrasound, cold plasma, supercritical CO2, and irradiation for their impact on postbiotic bioactivity, stability, and functional value.

Results

High-pressure processing and pulsed electric fields demonstrated efficacy in microbial inactivation and bioactive compound extraction. Ultrasound and cold plasma show promise for preserving thermally sensitive postbiotic constituents. Challenges persist in scaling up methods, refining parameters, and addressing regulatory and economic constraints for industrial implementation.

Conclusion

Nonthermal technologies present significant innovation opportunities for postbiotic production while preserving bioactive compounds and improving stability. Industrial integration requires further evidence on feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and safety compliance, with key gaps identified in standardized protocols, long-term functional preservation, and scaling optimization for practical implementation.
  • Published in:Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 41273201
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