Advances in Pectin-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Applications and Future Perspectives

Pectin is an acidic structural heteropolysaccharide primarily composed of galacturonic acid units. It is mainly extracted from citrus fruits, apples, pears, guavas, and other plant sources using acidic hot-water extraction methods within a pH range of 1.5–3.5. Due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxic nature, pectin has gained significant attention as a promising natural polymer in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biomedical fields. Pharmacologically, pectin exhibits various therapeutic properties, including hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolemic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. It helps regulate blood glucose, reduce cholesterol levels, inhibit microbial growth, and suppress tumour progression. Nutraceutically, pectin functions as both a prebiotic and a probiotic agent, serving as a bioactive dietary fibre that promotes cardiovascular and metabolic health. In biomedical applications, pectin-based formulations have demonstrated great potential for controlled and targeted drug delivery. A wide range of pectin-based systems—such as hydrogels, films, microparticles, nanoparticles, beads, pellets, and tablets—have been developed for oral, buccal, nasal, and ocular delivery. Future research will likely focus on chemical modification, crosslinking, and nano-structuring approaches to enhance pectin’s mechanical strength, stability, and site-specific release properties. Moreover, combining pectin with other biopolymers, such as chitosan, alginate, or gelatin, may yield hybrid or composite systems with improved bioadhesion and controlled-release properties. This study highlights the drug delivery applications of pectin and discusses its future research prospects. Keywords: Pectin, drug delivery, pharmaceutical applications.