Advanced fruits postharvest coatings/films technologies: from simple matrix restructuring to intelligent microenvironment engineering.

Advanced composite coatings/films present a promising strategy for the preservation of fruits postharvest by effectively addressing the fundamental thermodynamic mismatch between the high surface tension of biopolymer formulations and the low surface energy of epicuticular waxes. While this discrepancy typically results in dewetting and adhesion failure, embracing an interface-centric framework opens up new opportunities for overcoming these interfacial energy barriers. This review systematically evaluates advanced matrix restructuring strategies, including amphiphilic grafting, biomimetic coacervation, amyloid fibrillation and Pickering emulsions, which enable conformal wetting and long-term structural stability. Furthermore, the incorporation of functional nanoscale units (e.g., carbon dots, metal-organic frameworks, and artificial nanozymes) transforms these passive physical barriers into intelligent and active interfaces. From a structure-function perspective, we elucidate the mechanisms that modulate moisture migration, respiratory intensity, antimicrobial defense, and oxidative stress, emphasizing how engineered microenvironments can be tailored for climacteric fruits, non-climacteric fruits, citrus peels, and fresh-cut tissues. Ultimately, this review identifies key challenges and future research directions, providing insights for next-generation sustainable postharvest packaging.