Development and characterization of novel probiotic-residing pullulan/starch edible films

• An innovative approach was proposed for the production of novel edible films.
• Three probiotic strains were able to survive in the biomaterials-based edible films for 2 months.
• Pure pullulan and pullulan/potato starch films can be used as excellent carrier materials for probiotic strains.
• Pure pullulan and pullulan/potato starch films were found to have good physical and mechanical properties.
• The addition of starch materials into pullulan solution could alter the physical and mechanical properties of the films.

An innovative approach was performed to prepare novel pullulan/starch blended edible films by direct incorporation of multiple probiotic bacterial strains. Various starches different in origin were blended into the pullulan solutions with different ratios. The physical and mechanical properties of the films were investigated in the presence and absence of probiotic cells. An increase in the starch content of pullulan films resulted in a substantial decrease in relative cell viabilities and mechanical properties. Moreover, slight changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the films were observed with the addition of probiotic strains. Pullulan and pullulan/potato starch films were found to be the most suitable carrier matrices, with a maximum relative cell viability of 70–80% after 2 months of storage at 4 °C. The results suggest that pullulan and pullulan/starch films can be used as effective delivery and carrier systems for probiotics.