Strain Screening, Fermentation, Separation, and Encapsulation for Production of Nattokinase Functional Food

This study presents a novel and integrated preparation technology for nattokinase functional food, including strain screening, fermentation, separation, and encapsulation. To rapidly screen a nattokinase-productive strain, PCR-based screening method was combined with fibrinolytic activity-based method, and a high productive strain, Bacillus subtilis LSSE-22, was isolated from Chinese soybean paste. Reduction of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) concentration may contribute to separation of nattokinase and reduction of late-onset anaphylaxis risk. Chickpeas were confirmed as the favorable substrate for enhancement of nattokinase production and reduction of gamma-PGA yield. Using cracked chickpeas, the nattokinase activity reached 356.25 +/- 17.18 FU/g (dry weight), which is much higher than previous reports. To further reduce gamma-PGA concentration, ethanol fractional extraction and precipitation were applied for separation of nattokinase. By extraction with 50 % and precipitation with 75 % ethanol solution, 4,000.58 +/- 192.98 FU/g of nattokinase powders were obtained, and the activity recovery reached 89 +/- 1 %, while gamma-PGA recovery was reduced to 21 +/- 2 %. To improve the nattokinase stability at acidic pH condition, the nattokinase powders were encapsulated, and then coated with methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer. After encapsulation, the nattokinase was protected from being denatured under various acid conditions, and pH-responsible controlled release at simulated intestinal fluid was realized.