Biopolymeric micro and nanoscale colloidal delivery systems for controlled drug release in pharmaceutical sector

• Biopolymer systems improve controlled drug release and therapeutic outcomes. • Stimuli-responsive biopolymers enable precision medicine. • Diffusion, swelling, osmosis, and erosion define mass transport mechanisms. • Scale-up and in vivo validation remain key barriers to translation. Controlled release delivery systems have become a focal point in the pharmaceutical sector, with biopolymers playing a crucial role in enabling precise modulation of active compound release. Polymers, categorized into natural and synthetic types, are widely used due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility. Natural biopolymers, such as proteins, polysaccharides, and microbial polyesters, offer high bioactivity but may encounter challenges related to mechanical strength and degradation rates. Synthetic polymers, including poly(lactic acid) and polycaprolactone, are engineered to provide enhanced stability and tunable release profiles. Integrating these biopolymers in controlled release systems enhances targeted therapeutic outcomes by ensuring sustained drug release in pharmaceutical applications, thereby improving drug efficacy and minimising side effects. This review demonstrates that utilizing novel approaches involving biopolymeric materials for controlled-release delivery systems is a promising route for precise control, offering important industrial potential. Integrating these materials in the pharmaceutical industry represents a breakthrough in enhancing release profiles and targeting specific applications (e.g. cancer therapy, drug delivery, nutraceutical delivery). The latest advancements in biopolymeric materials and their applications in controlled release systems, focusing on targeted release strategies, are comprehensively discussed. Key release mechanisms (diffusion, erosion, and swelling) are also critically compared for targeted applications. Despite progress, challenges like scalability and in vivo validation require further research to bridge lab-scale innovations to commercial applications. Biopolymeric delivery systems enable controllable release kinetics through material-structure interactions, supporting rational design of targeted pharmaceutical formulations with translational relevance.