Biofunctional metal-phenolic films from dietary flavonoids.

We assembled dietary, bioactive flavonoids into a metal coordinated network to form thin, surface-bound films and hollow capsules, overcoming the poor water solubility of free flavonoids. Films formed from quercetin, myricetin, luteolin and fisetin show radical scavenging activity, a renowned feature of their parent flavonoids, and can be reused over multiple cycles. These films are expected to have potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries.