This review describes hydrogels and their classifications along with the synthesis and properties of biopolymer-dextrin based crosslinked hydrogels and their potential applications in controlled drug delivery. Modified dextrin based crosslinked hydrogels exhibit unique characteristics in terms of their mechanical properties, stimuli-responsive behaviour and drug release characteristics. Herein, first an outline is given of hydrogels and their classifications, various biopolymer based hydrogels and their synthetic procedures. Secondly, the significance of biopolymer dextrin for developing hydrogels, requirements of modification, and various dextrin based hydrogels developed in the authors’ laboratory are discussed. Finally, the importance of crosslinked hydrogels in drug delivery applications and various dextrin based hydrogels used in sustained drug delivery studies have been explored, which confirm that future clinical applications of these materials in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields are feasible.