Recently, the Quality and Safety Control Team of Agricultural Product Processing at the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IFST-CAAS), reviewed the innovative applications, key bottlenecks, and development prospects of coordination-driven materials (CDMs) in food packaging, nutrient delivery, and safety detection. The findings were published in the internationally renowned journal Coordination Chemistry Reviews (Q1 in JCR, IF=23.5).Dr. Xiaoxue Jia and Prof. Yi Li from the Institute served as co-corresponding authors.

This review breaks through the limitations of traditional fragmented categorization by material type or application field. It innovatively employs metal-ligand bonds as a unified logical thread to systematically establish the intrinsic logical connection between coordination chemistry principles and functional applications in food science. Starting from coordination structures and bonding kinetic characteristics, CDMs are classified into four major categories: discrete complexes, coordination polymers, dynamic supramolecular assemblies (amorphous), and bioinorganic complexes. It thoroughly analyzes the precise regulatory mechanisms by which fundamental chemical parameters, such as coordination patterns, metal centers, and ligand coordination degrees, control key functional properties like antioxidant activity, antibacterial effects, controlled release, and sensing capabilities. This provides a scientific foundation for understanding and designing high-performance food-grade materials at the molecular level.

Focusing on typical application scenarios such as smart packaging, nutrient delivery, and food safety detection, this review analyzes the intrinsic logical pathways of CDMs from structural design to functional implementation. It deepens scientific understanding of the functional mechanisms of these materials while systematically addressing common challenges currently faced in food applications. Key bottlenecks include insufficient matrix stability, lack of safety evaluation systems, high costs for large-scale production, and limited understanding of their mechanisms of action.

This review prospectively outlines strategic directions for the future development of CDMs, including leveraging artificial intelligence to enable predictive design of material properties, advancing digital intelligent integration to promote convergence with Internet of Things technologies, and pursuing sustainable material design aligned with circular economy principles. These forward-looking insights chart a clear technological roadmap for deepening CDMs research and industrial translation within the field of food science.

This research was supported by the National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project.

Original link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2026.217697