Chapter 5: Biopolymer-based Drug Delivery Systems: Synthesis Strategies, Functionalization, and Applications

Microencapsulation techniques have shown remarkable potential in the development of drug delivery systems, with functional applications in encapsulating biologicals, chemical moieties, live mammalian and bacterial cells, and various therapeutically active molecules. Microencapsulation provides stability and protection to the encased material, taste masking, alters the drug absorption site, facilitates targeted delivery of drugs, and regulates the rate of release of the enclosed material, confirming efficient and safe therapeutic effects. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of microencapsulation methods, covering the primary goals of microencapsulation, fundamental considerations, diverse operations, and approaches considered during microencapsulation, including physical, chemical, and physicochemical methods. It also summarizes the main aspects of microencapsulation, especially regarding the encapsulation of various biopharmaceuticals to improve their physicochemical properties and therapeutic efficacy.