Asphalt　aging　and　fatigue　cracking　are　common　forms　of　distresses　in　flexible　pavements.　Micro　encapsulated　rejuvenator　has　been　generating　significant　interest　in　the　feasibility　and　potentiality　applications　of　asphalt　materials　self-healing　over　the　past　decade　and　is　likely　to　remain　so　for　the　foreseeable　future.　Despite　multiple　attempts,　the　prerequisite　is　crack　propagation　through　the　microcapsules　and　resulting　in　the　broken　shell,　which　is　a　passive　release.　Strategies　toward　self-healing　of　uncracked　aged　asphalt　by　microcapsules　remain　a　significant　challenge.　Herein,　numerous　successful　applications　of　controlled　release　microcapsules　in　other　fields,　including　biomedical　engineering,　food　industry,　agriculture,　smart　coating,　textile　industry,　and　cosmetics,　are　classified　and　referenced.　Special　attention　is　given　to　the　mechanisms　of　release　and　their　triggers,　followed　by　recent　advances　of　microencapsulation　technologies　with　detailed　experimental　demonstrations.　In　particular,　the　challenges　and　promising　solutions　of　novel　controlled　release　systems　for　asphalt　materials　are　proposed　in　detail　for　the　first　time.　This　review　aims　to　present　future　directions　for　research　in　this　field,　which　provides　new　ideas　for　the　smart　maintenance　of　asphalt　pavements.　(c)　2021　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.