Advances in Pectin-Based Bead Formation via Ionotropic Gelation for Enhanced Drug Delivery: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE: Pectin is a low-cost, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymer with significant potential for oral drug delivery, particularly for colon-targeted systems due to its resistance to gastric conditions and degradation by colonic microbiota. Understanding how formulation and process variables affect bead properties is essential to improve reproducibility and pharmaceutical applicability. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted according to Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A structured search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies describing the production of pectin beads via ionotropic gelation and their application in drug delivery were included. Data on formulation variables, crosslinking ions, characterization, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release were extracted and analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: 75 studies were included. Low-methoxyl pectin was the most commonly used polymer, and calcium was the predominant crosslinking ion. Polymer concentration, degree of esterification, molar mass, crosslinking conditions, co-polymers, and drying methods significantly influenced bead morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release profiles. Pectin-based beads generally showed high encapsulation efficiency and pH-sensitive controlled drug release, particularly for colon-targeted delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Pectin beads produced via ionotropic gelation have demonstrated considerable potential for controlled and colon-targeted drug delivery. However, methodological variability and limited in vivo and clinical studies still limit their translation to pharmaceutical applications. Future research should focus on process standardization, Quality by Design approaches, and hybrid polymer systems.