Lignin nanoparticles enter the scene: A promising versatile green tool for multiple applications

Strategies to take advantage of residual lignin from industrial processes are well regarded in the field of green chemistry and biotechnology. Quite recently, researchers transformed lignin into nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanofilms, nanocapsules and nanotubes, attracting increasing attention from the scientific community. Lignin nanoparticles are seen as green way to use high-value renewable resources for application in different fields because recent studies have shown they are non-toxic in reasonable concentrations (both in vitro and in vivo assays), inexpensive (a waste generated in the biorefinery, for example, from the bioethanol platform) and potentially biodegradable (by fungi and bacteria in nature). Promising studies have tested lignin nanoparticles for antioxidants, UV-protectants, heavy metal absorption, antimicrobials, drugs carriers, gene delivery systems, encapsulation of molecules, biocatalysts, supercapacitors, tissue engineering, hybrid nanocomposites, wound dressing, and others. These nanoparticles can be produced from distinct lignin types and by different chemical/physical/biological methods, which will result in varied characteristics for their morphology, shape, size, yield and stability. Therefore, taking into account that the theme "lignin nanoparticles" is a trending topic, this present review is emerging and has the discuss the current status, covering from concepts, the formation mechanism, synthesis methods and applications, to the future perspectives and challenges linked to lignin-based nanomaterials, aiming at the viability and commercialization of this biotechnological product.