INFLUENCE OF WALL MATERIALS ON ENCAPSULATION EFFICIENCY AND STABILITY OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN SPRAY DRYING: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the influence of wall materials on encapsulation efficiency and the stability of bioactive compounds obtained by spray drying, highlighting the main materials used and their industrial applications. Methodologically, this is an integrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive approach, conducted using the SciELO, CAPES Journal Portal, and Scopus databases, considering publications from 2021 to 2026. The descriptors "spray drying" AND "wall materials" AND encapsulation were used, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria related to the proposed topic. The results showed that materials such as gum arabic, maltodextrin, chitosan, pectin, alginate, zein, and whey proteins exhibit high efficiency in protecting bioactive compounds against oxidation, heat, light, and moisture, thereby contributing to greater stability, retention, and controlled release. Furthermore, combinations of different encapsulating materials provided better performance than the use of individual materials alone. It is concluded that wall materials play a fundamental role in the efficiency of spray drying encapsulation and are essential for the development of food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical products with improved stability, functionality, and shelf life.