Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta and reduced dopamine levels in the striatum. Despite substantial advances in pharmacotherapy, conventional treatment approaches remain limited due to poor blood–brain barrier permeability, fluctuating plasma drug concentrations, reduced bioavailability, systemic adverse effects, and diminished therapeutic efficacy during long-term treatment. Microencapsulation-based drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy to address these limitations by improving drug stability, prolonging release profiles, enhancing site-specific targeting, and minimizing systemic toxicity. The present review critically examines recent developments in microencapsulation approaches for Parkinson’s disease management and highlights their therapeutic significance in improving treatment outcomes. Various microencapsulation techniques, including spray drying, solvent evaporation, ionic gelation, coacervation, and emulsification methods, have demonstrated substantial potential in the controlled delivery of antiparkinsonian drugs and neuroprotective agents. Additionally, polymeric and lipid-based encapsulation systems have been investigated to improve the delivery of levodopa, dopamine agonists, antioxidants, and phytoconstituents across the blood–brain barrier. Emerging evidence further suggests that microencapsulation of natural bioactive compounds may provide sustained neuroprotective effects and reduce oxidative stress associated with disease progression. Although several challenges, including scalability, formulation stability, and clinical translation, remain unresolved, recent technological advancements indicate considerable promise for future therapeutic applications. Therefore, microencapsulation-based drug delivery systems may represent an innovative and clinically relevant platform for enhancing the efficacy, safety, and long-term management of Parkinson’s disease.