Harnessing Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents in Green Synthesis and Polymer Design: Toward Sustainable Pharmaceutical Applications

Green chemistry is increasingly shaping pharmaceutical formulations as demand grows for sustainable and biocompatible drug delivery systems. Natural Deep Eutectic Sol-vents (NADES), composed of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) components, have emerged as eco-friendly solvents with unique stabilizing and solubilizing properties. Beyond their role as solubilizers, recent advances highlight their integration into polymer-based drug delivery systems, enabling improved stability, solubility, and controlled release of both small molecules and biologics. This review critically examines the synthesis and functional charac-teristics of NADES-derived polymers, focusing on modified natural polymers, synthetic pol-ymers, and hybrid copolymers. Case studies demonstrate their effectiveness in enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs and stabilizing labile compounds. Future perspectives include AI-assisted formulation design, nanocarrier integration, and development of stimuli-responsive delivery platforms. Overall, NADES-derived polymers represent a promising frontier for sustainable and effective pharmaceutical formulations, aligning therapeutic inno-vation with environmental responsibility.