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Lignin-Based Nanocomposites: Applications, Trends and Challenges

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 728

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
2. Liaoning Key Lab of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
3. Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Interests: lignin structural units; lignin-based carbon fibers; chemically modified lignin-based environmental functional materials; lignin-based hydrogel microelectronic sensors

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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, China
Interests: lignin nanomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignin is a natural biopolymer that composes 20%–30% of most woody resources and lignocellulosic biomass. Lignin structures contain phenolic monomeric units, which are bonded together into huge 3D molecules. Today, technical lignins from pulping and biorefinery processes are largely underutilized, even though this phenolic biopolymer could be an interesting raw material for advanced applications for many daily goods. The production of nanocomposites from lignin has gained much research interest due to its attractive multifunctional properties and wide potential applications. Lignin-derived composites have demonstrated potential applications in adhesives, resins, coatings, plasticizers, and flame retardants. Lignin nanocomposites are also used for foods and fiber modification for textiles to improve the adhesion, hydrophobicity, antimicrobial, and antioxidative properties of the material. Moreover, lignin nanocomposites could be used as adsorbents in water purification, emulsifiers for colloids, carriers for enzymes, and controlled-release vectors for drugs and pesticides. With this in mind, this Special Issue solicits state-of-the-art work on the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites from lignin materials, as well as their potential applications.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

Synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites using technical lignins;

Nanocomposites and hybrid nanomaterials from lignin;

Functional lignin-based materials: hydrogels, nanocarriers, biosorbents, and nanoparticles;

Chemical modification of lignin to prepare tailored lignin nanostructured products;

Application of lignin nanocomposites in adhesives, resins, coatings, plasticizers, and flame retardants;

Lignin nanocomposites for application in water/wastewater treatment processes;

Lignin nanocomposites for medical implants and drug delivery;

Lignin-derived nanomaterials for renewable energy production and storage.

Dr. Boyu Du
Guest Editor

Dr. Jingyu Xu
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • lignin
  • nanocomposites
  • hybrid nanomaterials
  • functionalization
  • adsorbents
  • adhesives
  • resins
  • coatings
  • cosmetics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 5023 KB  
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, Xin Zhang, Jihui Wang, Xuan Chen, Xiaoqin Pan, Junqiu Zhang, Jingyu Xu and Weibin Bai
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(23), 1754; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231754 - 22 Nov 2025
Viewed by 488
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignin-Based Nanocomposites: Applications, Trends and Challenges)
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