The present application relates to a biodegradable material comprising opened starch or a mixture of opened starch and destructurised starch. The biodegradable material comprises about 50 to about 100 wt. % of opened starch or of a mixture of opened starch and destructurized starch, based on the total weight of the biodegradable material, said biodegradable material having a bulk density of 1.0 to 1.5 kg/dm. The biodegradable material is used for manufacturing biodegradable shaped articles, wherein said biodegradable shaped articles are suitable for delivery of a biologically or pharmaceutically active component in or to a vertebrate, e.g. a mammal.