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The probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 was microencapsulated in alginate (MC) and in chitosan-alginate (CMC) matrix by vibrating technology with the main purpose to improve its tolerance to adverse environments. Microencapsulation procedure proved to not affect cell viability as indicated by a high encapsulation yield (97%) as well as further chitosan coating that minimally affected cell population. The viability of microencapsulated probiotic was evaluated under several stress conditions such as 28 days storage in different solutions at 4 and 20 °C, simulated gastrointestinal passage and osmotic stress conditions. Also reuterin production and diffusion through microcapsules were assessed. Results of survival assays showed that in most of tested conditions microencapsulation significantly (P < 0.05) improved L. reuteri DSM 17938 resistance. Furthermore, microcapsules were freeze dried in …