Solid-state NMR is a nondestructive and noninvasive technique used to study the chemical structure and dynamics of starch-based materials and to bridge the gap between structure-function relationships and industrial applications. The study of crystallinity, chemical modification, product blending, molecular packing, amylose-amylopectin ratio, end chain motion, and solvent-matrix interactions is essential for tailoring starch product properties to various applications. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and critical review of research characterizing starch-based materials using solid-state NMR, and to briefly introduce the most advanced and promising NMR strategies and hardware designs used to overcome the sensitivity and resolution issues involved in structure-function relationships.
Keywords: food science; polarization enhancement; sensitivity boosting; solid-state NMR spectroscopy; solvent–matrix interactions; starch; sustainable polymers.