Calcium carbonate in drug delivery: functional carrier design, applications, and data-driven perspectives

Calcium carbonate, particularly in its vaterite polymorph, is a valuable platform for controlled, sustainable delivery. Its tunable structure, pH responsiveness, and biocompatibility enable cargo loading control, while hybrid CaCO₃-hydrogel systems overcome the limitations of purely inorganic or organic carriers. The integration of machine learning and explainable AI into synthesis and formulation design is expected to accelerate optimization and predict performance with unprecedented accuracy. Future progress will depend on translation into scalable, eco-friendly production and on establishing regulatory frameworks for safety and environmental compatibility.