J Food Sci 2026 Jul 01;917:e71247. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.71247.

Postbiotics and the Future of Functional Foods: Delivery Innovations for Targeted Health Benefits.

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Postbiotics, inactivated microorganisms or their components, offer significant health-promoting benefits, in addition to greater stability and a longer shelf life compared to probiotics. However, maximizing their therapeutic efficacy requires preserving their bioaccessibility under rigorous food-processing conditions and during harsh gastrointestinal transit. Typical delivery methods include emulsions, hydrogels, and nanostructures, each offering distinct benefits regarding biocompatibility and food product enhancement. This review aims to investigate innovative approaches and advancements in postbiotic delivery to optimize the therapeutic potential of postbiotics in improving gut health and overall well-being. Furthermore, it evaluates enhancements in bioavailability and functionality by analyzing advancements in emulsions, hydrogels, and nanotechnology-based systems. The findings are expected to identify technological gaps and propose innovations to drive the development of next-generation delivery platforms, ultimately improving postbiotic applications across sectors. The potential of postbiotics to overcome the limitations of probiotics lies in integrating cutting-edge delivery technologies that can notably enhance postbiotic stability and targeted action, thereby overcoming the traditional limitations of viable probiotics. This review highlights the role of emulsions, hydrogels, and nanotechnology in maximizing the therapeutic benefits of postbiotics, positioning them as promising tools for improving gut health and for broader applications in food science and nutrition, and underscoring their potential to enhance consumer health and well-being.

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