Upcycling fruit waste: a sustainable route to nanoparticles synthesis and applications

Abstract

Fruits are a common part of a healthy human diet as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fibers, and flavor. However, the processing and subsequent consumption of fruits result in a significant amount of waste. The waste, including peels, seeds, and pulp, is often discarded, despite being abundant in valuable bioactive compounds. Moreover, the increasing social, economic, and environmental burden due to food waste is of critical concern, especially in poor and developing countries. Hence, the effective repurposing of food waste into beneficial products is of critical importance. One promising approach is the green synthesis of biomaterials such as nanoparticles for various biological, environmental, and agricultural applications. This review emphasizes the utilization of bioactive compounds obtained from different fruit waste byproducts for the green synthesis of nanoparticles and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of waste valorization through green nanotechnology and sustainability.