A comprehensive scrutinization on tamarind kernel powder-based derivatives and nanomaterials in modern research

A natural biopolymer, tamarind exhibits eco-friendly, biodegradable, and biocompatible characteristics, offering a renewable and sustainable alternative for nanoparticle formulation compared to synthetic polymers. The chelation effect of (-OH), (-COOH), and (-CO) in tamarind plays an important role in the binding and stabilizing of metal ions, during nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis and enhances the stability and uniformity of NPs. Tamarind has some drawbacks e.g., low solubility, and dullness. Derivatization of tamarind improved swelling, water solubility, mucoadhesive properties, and viscosity, which was achieved through grafting, copolymerization, and cross-linking. NPs of tamarind have been synthesized using various methods, including the co-precipitation method, sol-gel method, hydrothermal method, green synthesis method, in-situ, ex-situ, and solvent casting method. The derivatization and fabrication of tamarind NPs were confirmed via some techniques including fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ay dispersive diffraction (XRD), ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV–VIS), dynamic light scattering (DSC), nuclear genetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Tamarind-based NPs exhibit a spectrum of versatile applications including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunomodulatory, anticancer, drug delivery, hazardous metal, and dye removal, agriculture, biosensing, food packaging, electrochemical devices, and many more. This review provides the details regarding tamarind derivatives and nanoparticles introduced to date. It incites us about the synthesis of a novel derivative of tamarind and explores its applications in various fields.