Banana leathers as influenced by polysaccharide matrix and probiotic bacteria

•Probiotic banana leathers were developed with starch or bacterial cellulose (BC).•Two probiotics were tested: bacillus coagulans and Lactobacillus acidophilus.•Mechanical properties of leathers were affected by bacteria and matrix.•L. acidophilus suffered high viability losses upon leather drying.•The products were well accepted.