Starch-Based Composites for Drug Delivery

Starch-based composites have gained remarkable attention in recent years due to their sustainable and biocompatible properties for drug delivery. Their biodegradability, low cost and ease of chemical modification make them suitable for designing systems with controlled release, enhanced stability, and solubility of various therapeutic agents. Native starch possesses certain limitations, such as high water sensitivity and poor mechanical stability. Chemical modification, grafting, cross-linking and blending with polymers, inorganic materials or lipids are done to overcome these limitations. Incorporation of therapeutic agents protects labile molecules from degradation, allows sustained release, and facilitate-site specific drug delivery. Moreover, the combination of starch with nanoformulations hydrogels films are developed for the management of various acute and chronic diseases. Despite these advantages, challenges such as reproducibility, large-scale manufacturing, and regulatory acceptance remain barrier for its clinical translation. This chapter reviews the therapeutic relevance of starch composites for drug delivery and outlines future directions for their development as clinically viable carriers.