Chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes demand advanced drug delivery methods that can accommodate precise, sustained, and targeted release of active compounds. Existing drug carriers such as conventional capsules are limited by issues like poor bioavailability, mechanical fragility, and unpredictable release patterns. With the global drug delivery market expected to surpass USD 1.8 trillion by 2028, it is crucial to address these challenges. Additionally, there is a growing need to develop biocompatible systems that can mitigate concerns about toxicity, environmental impact, and patient compliance. Here, we review the latest advancements in composite drug capsules, focusing on key aspects such as controlled drug release, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial potential. Composite materials offer customised release mechanisms by combining synthetic and natural polymers. This has led to improvements in stability, encapsulation efficiency, and bioavailability. Some noteworthy advancements in this field include the development of magnetic-responsive systems for targeted therapies, alginate-based dual-release systems, and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for gene delivery. For example, the encapsulation of lycopene in whey protein composites achieved an impressive encapsulation efficiency of 94%, showcasing enhanced delivery performance. Additionally, there have been developments in pH-sensitive capsules designed for cancer treatment, which release drugs selectively in tumour environments. Furthermore, multifunctional magnetic capsules have been created to facilitate MRI imaging and remote-controlled drug release. Moreover, pH-sensitive alginate-based capsules have proven effective in improving the therapeutic outcomes of cancer treatments by ensuring drug release specifically within the acidic tumour microenvironment. Other notable achievements include the integration of antioxidant nanoparticles, such as cerium oxide (CeO₂), into drug delivery systems, showing potential for mitigating oxidative stress and providing neuroprotection in inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions. Despite these innovations, persistent challenges related to scalability, regulatory clearance, and enduring biocompatibility necessitate further investigation. These combined capsules possess significant potential, presenting more intelligent, adaptable drug delivery systems positioned to transform personalised medicine and future healthcare solutions.

Physcion can induce plant resistance to disease, and is registered to control powdery mildew by spraying in China. Seed coating is a widely applied precision method for pest prevention and control. To explore its potential in disease control and yield increase by seed coating, mixtures containing physcion and commonly used fungicides were designed and applied in a field trial. Greenhouse experiments screened the optimal concentration of physcion for seed coating an found it to be 1:50, with excellent promotion of plant growth and powdery mildew control. In field trials, seeds coated with a combinations of physcion with validamycin and pyrimidine nucleotide (2#) at 1:50 exhibited the highest emergence rate, tillering number, control effect of wheat powdery mildew, enzyme activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and peroxidase (POD), photosynthetic pigment content, and yield. These results provide an effective approach to wheat disease control and yield increase in wheat fields, and can lay the basis for reasonable application of physcion in Huang-huai-hai plain in China.