Abstract: The invention relates to a three-dimensional food printing system and method for fabricating porous hydrogel particles having small sizes and high porosity. The inventive method first forms a highly consistent biopolymer solution with desired rheological properties. The biopolymer solution is extruded using a 3D food printing system and then freeze-dried into the desired porous hydrogel particles, having a desired particle size, morphological, structural, thermal and textural properties, and crystallinity. The hydrogel particles can then be utilized for targeted delivery systems for bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals, micronutrients, probiotics, and the like, and can also be used in connection with personalized nutrition and medicine plans and programs.