eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2026-10-10 23 3 59871 article Rakesh Dhole 1 Rakeshkumar Desai 2 Santosh Mustelwar 3 Hiteshkumar Chaudhari 4 Aakash Jethva 5 Maulik Patel 6 Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, KVPS’s Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar College of Pharmacy, Shirpur, India Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate Ricon Pharma LLC, 100 Ford Road, Denville, USA Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Control, Director ARD & QC STI PHARMA, Blacksmith Rd, Newtown, USA Ingenus Pharmaceuticals NJ LLC, 140 New Dutch Lane, Fairfield, USA Department of Pharmaceutics, Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York, USA RA Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Maize prolamins are proteins that, when isolated, can form spherical nanoparticles suitable for delivering hydrophobic bioactive molecules via self-assembly. However, at physiological pH, zein nanoparticles readily aggregate and are susceptible to degradation in the gastrointestinal (GIT) tract by proteases. These limitations can be circumvented by wrapping zein cores with polysaccharide shells that impart electrostatic and steric stabilization and allow controlled, stimulus-responsive release of encapsulated compounds. The physicochemical properties of zein, methods used to prepare zein/polysaccharide nanoparticles (antisolvent precipitation, pH-induced, heat-induced and antisolvent co-precipitation) their morphological characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and mechanistic interactions were revealed using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were taken in the studies analyzed in this descriptive literature review and compiled between the years 2015 – 2026. The controlled release and stability of typical zein/polysaccharide systems such as alginate, pectin, chitosan, carrageenan, hyaluronic acid, gum Arabic, soybean polysaccharide, and chondroitin sulfate are reviewed. Several knowledge gaps remain, including interbatch reproducibility, manufacturing scalability, in vivo bioavailability, and the molecular mechanisms underlying increased biological activity. By addressing these challenges, these natural and food-safe nanocarriers show strong potential for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and functional food applications. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol23no3/recent-advances-in-zein-core-polysaccharide-shell-nanoparticles-alginate-pectin-chitosan-carrageenan-and-hyaluronic-acid-for-bioactive-compound-delivery-preparation-characterization-stability/ Bioavailability; Controlled Release; Core-Shell Nanoparticles; Encapsulation Efficiency; Food Nanotechnology; Narrative Review; Polysaccharide Coating; Zein