Transient polymer nanocomposites with programmable functions for zero-residue and self-regulating food applications.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, 147004, Punjab, India.
- 2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Sharda School of Engineering and Science, Sharda University, Greater Noida, 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- 3Department of Chemistry, Nigerian Army University Biu, Biu, Borno State, PMB 1500, Nigeria.
- 4Department of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, Amity Institute of Environment and Sustainability, Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), Sector- 125, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201313, Noida, India. [email protected].
- 5Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh.
Abstract
The next generation of sustainable food materials must move beyond passive biodegradability toward systems that actively control their function, lifespan, and environmental fate. This review introduces the emerging concept of transient and programmable polymer nanocomposites, a transformative class of materials designed to perform specific food-related functions, adapt to changing conditions, and subsequently disassemble into benign, zero-residue products. Unlike conventional biodegradable nanocomposites that degrade through uncontrolled environmental processes, transient systems enable triggerable and time-defined disintegration, providing precise control over material persistence and nanoparticle release. Similarly, the ability to modify material properties in response to stimuli can be extended to include feedback-driven control of antimicrobial, barrier, or antioxidant properties. The review provides an integrated perspective of the interaction between nano-polymer, function, degradation, and lifecycle sustainability. New materials are reviewed that include sustainable polymer, transient degradation chemistry, nano-enabled sensing, self-regulating release systems, and intelligent packaging. Special attention is paid to balancing function with safety, as well as circular economy. The future directions for these materials are the use of artificial intelligence as a tool, closed-loop packaging, and permanently floating nanocomposites are also explored. Through the introduction of the term "function-response-disappearance", we are addressing a gap in the literature on food nanotechnology, while describing a roadmap for safe, adaptive and zero-waste materials that can aid resilient and sustainable food systems.
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BibTeX
@article{singh2026transient,
title = {{Transient polymer nanocomposites with programmable functions for zero-residue and self-regulating food applications.}},
author = {Lovepreet Singh and Manideepa Paul and Agbogo Ugbetan Victor and Harshita Jain and Masukur Rahman},
journal = {Discover nano},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s11671-026-05098-0},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963455},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Transient polymer nanocomposites with programmable functions for zero-residue and self-regulating food applications.
AU - Lovepreet Singh
AU - Manideepa Paul
AU - Agbogo Ugbetan Victor
AU - Harshita Jain
AU - Masukur Rahman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Discover nano
DO - 10.1186/s11671-026-05098-0
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963455
AB - The next generation of sustainable food materials must move beyond passive biodegradability toward systems that actively control their function, lifespan, and environmental fate. This review introduces the emerging concept of transient and programmable polymer nanocomposites, a transformative class of materials designed to perform specific food-related functions, adapt to changing conditions, and subsequently disassemble into benign, zero-residue products. Unlike conventional biodegradable nanocomposites that degrade through uncontrolled environmental processes, transient systems enable triggerable and time-defined disintegration, providing precise control over material persistence and nanoparticle release. Similarly, the ability to modify material properties in response to stimuli can be extended to include feedback-driven control of antimicrobial, barrier, or antioxidant properties. The review provides an integrated perspective of the interaction between nano-polymer, function, degradation, and lifecycle sustainability. New materials are reviewed that include sustainable polymer, transient degradation chemistry, nano-enabled sensing, self-regulating release systems, and intelligent packaging. Special attention is paid to balancing function with safety, as well as circular economy. The future directions for these materials are the use of artificial intelligence as a tool, closed-loop packaging, and permanently floating nanocomposites are also explored. Through the introduction of the term "function-response-disappearance", we are addressing a gap in the literature on food nanotechnology, while describing a roadmap for safe, adaptive and zero-waste materials that can aid resilient and sustainable food systems.
SN - 2731-9229
ER -