Emerging Applications of Marine-Derived Polymers in Targeted Drug Delivery: A Comprehensive Review of Sources, Structures, and Pharmaceutical Potentials

Abstract

Marine-derived polymers are increasingly recognized as versatile biomaterials for targeted drug delivery. This comprehensive review explores the sources, chemical structures, and pharmaceutical potential of key marine polymers, highlighting how their unique properties enable innovative drug delivery systems across multiple routes of administration. We classify major marine-derived polymers (e.g., alginate, chitosan, carrageenan, fucoidan, marine collagens) and explain their relevance based on biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional diversity. We then examine their emerging applications in oral, buccal/sublingual, nasal, pulmonary, rectal, vaginal, ocular, and transdermal drug delivery, with two case studies per route illustrating recent preclinical or clinical advances. These case studies demonstrate how marine polymers enhance targeted delivery via mechanisms such as mucoadhesion, stimuli-responsive gelation, nanoparticle formation, and ligand-specific targeting. One illustrative graph and a summary table are included to visualize polymer classifications and key applications. The review also discusses recent innovations and patents, underscoring trends such as marine polymer-based nanocarriers for cancer therapy and microneedle patches for transdermal delivery. In conclusion, marine-derived polymers offer a rich platform for developing targeted, patient-friendly drug delivery systems. Their continued development, supported by growing clinical evidence and technological refinements, is poised to expand the pharmaceutical toolkit for precision medicine. Future prospects include scaled-up production, more in-depth safety profiling, and translational research to bring marine polymer-based delivery systems from bench to bedside. Keywords: Marine-derived polymers; Targeted drug delivery; Polysaccharides; Chitosan; Alginate; Carrageenan; Mucoadhesive delivery; Nanoparticles