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Nanomaterials
Volume 15
Issue 23
10.3390/nano15231754
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Lignin Nanoparticles from Coffee Grounds Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Coffee Grounds Lignin and Induce Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Cell Lines

by
Shiwen Liu
1,2,3,†,
Xin Zhang
3,†,
Jihui Wang
3,
Xuan Chen
3,
Xiaoqin Pan
3,
Junqiu Zhang
3,
Jingyu Xu
2,* and
Weibin Bai
1,*
1
Department of Food Science and Engineering, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Guangdong Engineering Technology Center of Food Safety Molecular Rapid Detection, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
2
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, China
3
School of Life and Health Technology, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
The above authors contributed to the same extent.
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(23), 1754; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231754 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 21 October 2025 / Revised: 20 November 2025 / Accepted: 20 November 2025 / Published: 22 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignin-Based Nanocomposites: Applications, Trends and Challenges)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor worldwide, with morbidity and mortality rates increasing annually. Consequently, the development of safe and effective natural anti-tumor drugs has become a critical research focus. Lignin, a polyphenolic polymer abundant in nature, possesses a unique chemical structure that imparts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tumor cell-related bioactivities, demonstrating remarkable potential in the prevention and treatment of CRC. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor cell effects of coffee grounds lignin nanoparticles (CLN), prepared using aqueous ethanol extraction from coffee waste, against three CRC cell lines (HCT116, HT29, SW620). The results indicated that CLN potently inhibited the proliferation of all three CRC cell lines mentioned above. This research supports the transformation of lignin from natural products into innovative anti-colorectal cancer agent, offering new insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies characterized by low toxicity and high efficacy. As research advances and technology continues to innovate, lignin-based nanoparticles emerge as key natural products in CRC therapy, offering new hope for patients and paving the way for the application of natural products in cancer therapy.
Keywords: lignin nanoparticles; coffee grounds; colorectal cancer lignin nanoparticles; coffee grounds; colorectal cancer

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, S.; Zhang, X.; Wang, J.; Chen, X.; Pan, X.; Zhang, J.; Xu, J.; Bai, W. Lignin Nanoparticles from Coffee Grounds Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Coffee Grounds Lignin and Induce Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Cell Lines. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 1754. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231754

AMA Style

Liu S, Zhang X, Wang J, Chen X, Pan X, Zhang J, Xu J, Bai W. Lignin Nanoparticles from Coffee Grounds Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Coffee Grounds Lignin and Induce Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Cell Lines. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(23):1754. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231754

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Shiwen, Xin Zhang, Jihui Wang, Xuan Chen, Xiaoqin Pan, Junqiu Zhang, Jingyu Xu, and Weibin Bai. 2025. "Lignin Nanoparticles from Coffee Grounds Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Coffee Grounds Lignin and Induce Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Cell Lines" Nanomaterials 15, no. 23: 1754. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231754

APA Style

Liu, S., Zhang, X., Wang, J., Chen, X., Pan, X., Zhang, J., Xu, J., & Bai, W. (2025). Lignin Nanoparticles from Coffee Grounds Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Coffee Grounds Lignin and Induce Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Cell Lines. Nanomaterials, 15(23), 1754. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231754

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