From Plate to Platform: Food Waste Valorization into Biodegradable Delivery Systems for Sustainable Health and...

The rapidly growing phenomenon of food waste worldwide is a major cause of environmental concern; however, it represents a sustainable source of useful biomolecules. This review highlights the possibility of using agro-food waste products as a renewable source of environmentally friendly, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials for the production of delivery systems.

A review of the latest developments in the fabrication of delivery systems from food waste was performed. Particular attention was paid to sustainable processing methods, namely enzyme-assisted extraction, supercritical CO₂ extraction, and deep eutectic solvents extraction. Moreover, different types of delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, 3D printing technology, capsules, and microneedles, have been considered.

The food waste-based polymer materials exhibited high encapsulation efficiencies (70- 95%) and increased bioavailability (1.8-3.5 fold) with a controlled drug release rate for 24-72 hours. The nanocarriers and hydrogels increased the gut retention and wound healing rates by 30-45%, retained the probiotics at 10⁸ CFU/g, and extended shelf-life through active packaging. Furthermore, they provided 40-70% reductions in carbon footprint and biodegradability of 90% within several months.

The study results reveal that food waste conversion into value-added polymers has potential for creating both economic and ecological benefits.

The developed polymers from food waste materials are promising and ecofriendly alternatives compared to traditional polymer materials. Standardization, regulation compliance, and development of environmentally friendly production processes will play key roles in promoting these polymers.