Advances in lignin and lignin-based composites in biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Developing biocompatible, biodegradable, and mechanically robust materials for biomedical applications is challenging.
• Lignin, a natural biopolymer from plants, offers abundant functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl) and possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Its natural abundance and unique characteristics position lignin as a promising candidate for diverse biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the potential biomedical applications of lignin.
• To focus on recent advancements in lignin-based biomedical technologies.
• To provide an overview of lignin types, structures, extraction, properties, and biological activities.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on lignin in biomedical applications.
• Analysis of lignin's chemical structure, properties, and biological activities.
• Discussion of current state-of-the-art lignin-based technologies and future perspectives.

Main Results:

• Lignin's functional groups enable antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities.
• Lignin is suitable for pharmaceutical delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and biosensors.
• Recent advances highlight the growing potential of lignin in advanced biomedical applications.

Conclusions:

• Lignin is a versatile and sustainable biomaterial with significant potential in various biomedical fields.
• Further research into lignin-based composites can lead to innovative solutions for healthcare challenges.
• This review synthesizes current knowledge and outlines future directions for lignin in biomedicine.