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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Green Synthesis, Characterization, Encapsulation, and Measurement of the Release Potential of Novel Alkali Lignin Micro-/Submicron Particles
Published on: March 1, 2024
Gallate-oriented surface engineering of lignin nanoparticles for enhanced antibacterial activity
Zonghong Lu1, Shujun Liang1,2, Depeendra Yadav2
1Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology, Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Åbo Akademi University, Henrikinkatu 2, Turku, FI-20500, Finland.
Researchers engineered gallate-decorated lignin nanoparticles (LigNPs) to combat bacterial infections. These tunable nanomaterials show selective antibacterial activity against Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria, offering a promising alternative to antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Antibacterial nanomaterials offer non-pharmacological alternatives to antibiotics.
- Lignin, a biomass derivative, has intrinsic antibacterial properties and self-assembles into nanoparticles (LigNPs).
- Precise control over LigNP surface chemistry is challenging due to complex self-assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a gallate-oriented surface engineering strategy for lignin nanoparticles (LigNPs).
- To create tunable surface chemistry on boronated lignin nanoparticles (BLigNPs) using gallate derivatives (GDs).
- To modulate the bactericidal activity of engineered LigNPs against specific bacterial types.
Main Methods:
- Engineered boronated lignin nanoparticles (BLigNPs) with gallate derivative (GD) coronas.
- Utilized tannic acid (TA) for a BLigNP-TA corona targeting Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus).
- Employed propyl gallate (PG) for a BLigNP-PG corona targeting Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli).
Main Results:
- BLigNP-TA showed high activity against S. aureus.
- BLigNP-PG demonstrated superior activity against E. coli and enhanced envelope association.
- Both designs improved nanoparticle interaction with biofilms and facilitated transport.
- BLigNP-PG exhibited good biocompatibility and low toxicity in zebrafish.
Conclusions:
- Gallate-oriented surface engineering enables tunable antibacterial activity of lignin nanoparticles.
- Engineered LigNPs can selectively target Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria.
- These nanomaterials show translational potential as safe and effective antibacterial agents.
