encapsulation strategies in starch nanoparticles: role of agent hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity in fabrication for biomedical use

Background: starch nanoparticles (snps) are biocompatible carriers for drug delivery in molecular medicine, leveraging their biodegradability and versatility for diseases, like cancer and infections. this narrative review evaluated fabrication methods and their suitability for encapsulating hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds.materials and methods: a systematic search of pubmed, scopus, and web of science (2010–2025) identified 34 studies on snp fabrication. seven methods of nanoprecipitation, emulsion/microemulsion, emulsion cross-linking, dialysis, sacrificial template, ball milling, and ultrasound were categorized as bottom-up or top-down approaches. we extracted data on particle size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency (ee), and drug release kinetics, focusing on hydrophilic (e.g. ciprofloxacin) and hydrophobic (e.g. paclitaxel) compounds. we also reviewed medical uses of snps and summarized them to link applications to method selection.results: bottom-up methods (e.g. nanoprecipitation) offer precise control, producing 30–870 nm particles with 20.5–97.56% ee, ideal for lab-scale applications. top-down methods (e.g. ultrasound) enable scalability, yielding 40–600 nm particles. hydrophilic compounds integrate well in aqueous-based methods, while hydrophobic compounds benefit from organic phases and chemical modifications (e.g. acetylation). amphipathic compounds show variable outcomes, requiring optimized conditions. snps enhance drug delivery for cancer (e.g. paclitaxel) and infectious diseases (e.g. ciprofloxacin), improving solubility and reducing toxicity.conclusion: the polarity of encapsulated compounds governs snp fabrication method selection, with chemical modifications enhancing stability and ee. this review provides a framework for optimizing snp production for targeted drug delivery in molecular medicine, particularly for cancer and infectious diseases, highlighting the need for tailored fabrication strategies.