Waste-Derived Sustainable Nanomaterials: Comprehensive Review of Synthesis Advances, Applications and Translational Challenges
5 affiliations
- 1Deakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
- 2School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
- 3University Hospital Geelong, Geelong 3220, Australia
- 4School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, Australia
- 5ICON Healthcare, Epworth Geelong Hospital, Geelong 3216, Australia
Abstract
Waste management presents a major environmental and public health challenge, creating an urgent need for strategies that convert discarded materials into higher-value products. Waste-derived nanoparticles (WDNPs) have gained increasing attention because they integrate waste valorization with the production of functional nanomaterials for environmental, biomedical, agricultural, packaging, sensing, catalytic and energy-related applications. This review critically evaluates WDNP synthesis from five major waste streams, including agricultural residues, animal-derived waste, plastic waste, electronic waste and industrial by-products. Across these categories, precursor composition strongly influences nanoparticle size, morphology, surface chemistry, stability and functional performance, making feedstock selection and processing conditions central to reproducible production. Evidence from recent studies indicates that WDNPs have broad functional potential across environmental remediation, biomedical delivery, antimicrobial systems, sustainable packaging, agriculture, energy storage and catalysis. However, translation beyond laboratory-scale studies remains limited by feedstock variability, limited reproducibility, complex purification requirements, potential toxicity, insufficient standardization and limited pilot-scale validation. By comparing synthesis approaches, application outcomes and translational barriers across waste categories, this review provides a critical overview of the opportunities and limitations of WDNPs and identifies the key requirements for their responsible development within a circular-economy framework.
Related
- Carbon dots as sustainable nanomaterials: Fabrication strategies, properties, characterisation, and applications: A systematic review
- Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles as Biomimetic Drug Delivery Systems: Design, Therapeutic Applications, and Translational Challenges.
- Sustainable hemocompatibility prediction of electrospun nanomaterials using SEM-driven CNN ensemble learning aligned with ISO 10993
- Transformative role of nanomaterials: Classification, physicochemical behavior, synthesis, characterization, and technological applications
- Review of Silicon-Based Nanomaterials Fabricated via Laser Microstructuring, Electrochemical Etching, and Hybrid Microstructures: Exploring Functional Integration and Future Applications
BibTeX
@article{yadav2026wastederived,
title = {{Waste-Derived Sustainable Nanomaterials: Comprehensive Review of Synthesis Advances, Applications and Translational Challenges}},
author = {Mahima Yadav and Jason Hodge and Terrence J. Piva and Moshi Geso and Rod Lynch and Faiza Basheer and William R. Patterson and Alison Chapman and Rasika M. Samarasinghe},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.3390/nano16130792},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16130792},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Waste-Derived Sustainable Nanomaterials: Comprehensive Review of Synthesis Advances, Applications and Translational Challenges
AU - Mahima Yadav
AU - Jason Hodge
AU - Terrence J. Piva
AU - Moshi Geso
AU - Rod Lynch
AU - Faiza Basheer
AU - William R. Patterson
AU - Alison Chapman
AU - Rasika M. Samarasinghe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/25
JO - Nanomaterials
DO - 10.3390/nano16130792
UR - https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16130792
AB - Waste management presents a major environmental and public health challenge, creating an urgent need for strategies that convert discarded materials into higher-value products. Waste-derived nanoparticles (WDNPs) have gained increasing attention because they integrate waste valorization with the production of functional nanomaterials for environmental, biomedical, agricultural, packaging, sensing, catalytic and energy-related applications. This review critically evaluates WDNP synthesis from five major waste streams, including agricultural residues, animal-derived waste, plastic waste, electronic waste and industrial by-products. Across these categories, precursor composition strongly influences nanoparticle size, morphology, surface chemistry, stability and functional performance, making feedstock selection and processing conditions central to reproducible production. Evidence from recent studies indicates that WDNPs have broad functional potential across environmental remediation, biomedical delivery, antimicrobial systems, sustainable packaging, agriculture, energy storage and catalysis. However, translation beyond laboratory-scale studies remains limited by feedstock variability, limited reproducibility, complex purification requirements, potential toxicity, insufficient standardization and limited pilot-scale validation. By comparing synthesis approaches, application outcomes and translational barriers across waste categories, this review provides a critical overview of the opportunities and limitations of WDNPs and identifies the key requirements for their responsible development within a circular-economy framework.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -