Green tea polyphenols-derived hybrid materials in manufacturing, environment, food and healthcare

Tea, as a well-known medicinal beverage, has gained a widespread reputation for its remarkable health benefits. Among various constituents in tea, tea polyphenols (TPs) stand out as the star active ingredients due to the excellent physicochemical properties and bioactivities. TPs are rich in phenolic hydroxyl and galloyl structures, which confer upon them with properties of reducing, oxidative self-polymerization, and binding. With such intriguing characteristics, TPs possess versatile applications in material synthesis, including filmogen, reductant and cross-linking agents, as well as templates for nanoparticle synthesis. One of the significant advantages of tea polyphenol-derived materials lies in their environmental friendliness and biocompatibility. Furthermore, these materials also retain potent bioactivities, encompassing antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-cancer properties. In this review, we delve into the structural properties of TPs, and focus on their pivotal roles within material systems, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview on tea polyphenol-derived materials in various fields, including environment, manufacturing, food packaging, and health. Based on the summarization of tea polyphenol-derived materials, we hope to promote the vast potential of these natural compounds for the development of sustainable and health-conscious materials.