Renewable Feedstock Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery: Evidence Mapping and Translational Readiness

Sustainable nanotechnologies derived from renewable resources are increasingly being positioned at the interface of green chemistry, advanced drug delivery, and translational pharmaceutics. Over the past decade, lignocellulosic nanomaterials, chitin/chitosan platforms, polysaccharide-based nanogels and nano-enabled hydrogels, lignin- and polyphenol-derived nanostructures, and bio-based lipid nanocarriers have been engineered through progressively eco-efficient routes, including solvent-minimized self-assembly, nanoprecipitation, spray drying, hot-melt extrusion, and microfluidic-assisted fabrication. This work provides a structured evidence map of nano-enabled drug delivery and therapeutic platforms derived from renewable biological resources. Specifically, we aim to (i) identify and classify nanoplatform classes and renewable feedstocks; (ii) summarize reported pharmaceutical critical quality attributes (CQAs) and performance and safety endpoints; and (iii) appraise how “renewability” and “green” claims are evidenced (feedstock origin vs. process sustainability) and how frequently translational readiness factors (scalability, quality control, regulatory alignment) are addressed. We critically compare renewable and conventional nanomaterial platforms across key translational dimensions, including carbon footprint, batch consistency, biodegradability, functional tunability, safety/persistence, and scale-up maturity. Finally, we delineate a practical translational pathway—from biomass sourcing and fractionation to nanoformulation, characterization/stability, and GMP scale-up—highlighting cross-cutting enablers such as lifecycle assessment, EHS/toxicology risk assessment, quality-by-design, and regulatory alignment. Collectively, the evidence supports renewable nanomaterials as viable, scalable candidates for next-generation therapeutics, provided that variability control, standardized characterization, and safety-by-design principles are embedded early in development.