## 3 Conclusions and Future Trends  
Starch modification can be achieved by either genetic, enzymatic, physical, or chemical techniques. Although the enzymatic and genetic methods are not used in polymer industries due to the high production cost, they are considered mainly in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Physical methods are eco-friendly and low cost; however, they destroy starch structure limiting their industrial applications. Physically modified starch is used in food and non-food applications such as packaging and 3D printing. Chemical methods can alter the structural properties of starch to achieve the desired product attributes and are widely considered in the industry. Methods such as crosslinking, alkali treatment, etherification, esterification, acid hydrolyzing, grafting, and dual modifications can be used to prepare chemically modified starch and its derivatives. Chemical modification leads to changes in crystallinity, morphology, and molecular weight of starch while altering tensile strength, elongation at break, and adhesive properties of starch. Moreover, chemical modifications can also enhance the shelf-life and improve the quality, including excellent foaming, air, and moisture barrier properties. Chemically modified starch show potential in packaging, bio-based adhesives, pharmaceutical, agriculture, superabsorbent, and wastewater treatment applications. The major setbacks of modified starch include high water sensitivity, low mechanical properties, generation of toxic substances, and hard processability.  
The modified starch market is expected to grow in the food and beverages industry, as emulsifying agents and stabilizing agents owing to its gluten-free nature. In addition, the high demand for processed food, increased use of bio-based adhesives in various industrial applications, and the increased interest in the development of starch-based products will contribute to modified starch market growth. Moreover, the increasing demand for natural sweeteners in the food and beverages industry and the use of modified starch in the paper, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals will increase the global modified starch market in the future.  
Conceptualization, C.G., S.M.A., A.M. (Aruna Manipura), R.S.D. and S.M.R.; methodology, S.M.A.; software, S.M.A.; validation, C.G., R.S.D. and S.M.R.; formal analysis, S.M.A., C.G. and R.S.D.; investigation, S.M.A., C.G., R.S.D. and S.M.R.; resources, S.M.A. and S.M.R.; data curation, S.M.A.; writing--original draft preparation, S.M.A., O.H.P.G., C.G., N.M.L.F. and D.B.W.; writing--review and editing, S.M.A., O.H.P.G., R.S.D., C.G. and S.M.R.; visualization, C.G., S.M.A., O.H.P.G. and R.S.D.; supervision, C.G., R.S.D., A.M. ([PERSON])., C.A.N.F., A.M. ([PERSON]) and A.K.K.; project administration, A.M. ([PERSON]) and C.G.; funding acquisition, A.M. ([PERSON]) and S.M.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) (AHEAD)/DOR/PDN/ENG--Grant No: AHEAD/RA3/DOR/65).  
Not applicable.  
The authors sincerely acknowledge all the Academic and Non-Academic staff members of the Department of Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering and Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.