About this Research Topic

Background

The ongoing research advancements pursue the search for biobased and sustainable alternatives to traditional products, with a focus on circularity, including industrial by-products as raw materials. The intrinsic multi-functionality and bioactive properties of lignin polymer, as well as its industrial availability as a residual side-stream from pulping industries and biorefineries, has led to increased interest in this bio-sourced compound for manufacturing new biobased materials and formulations with application in fields such as materials, coatings, electronics, biomedicine, cosmetics, and personal care. Lignin is the only high-molecular-weight natural polymer with an aromatic structure and the most abundant polyphenolic compound present in nature. However, the utilization of lignin in high-performance applications in still limited due to its high chemical variability, heterogeneity, dark color, and poor solubility in water and other solvents, and therefore, new and innovative lignin valorization avenues and strategies to increase its performance in final products are crucial.

Recently, morphology control through particle size reduction to nanoscale seems to be a promising strategy to overcome lignin biopolymer limitations for various industrial applications. The unique chemical features of lignin offer countless possibilities to increase its range of application by following different approaches and methods to prepare highly customizable micro- and nano-entities. However, lignin nanotechnology field is still in early stages of development. Therefore, this Research Topic aims at providing state-of-the-art knowledge, technologies and highlight advances on lignin chemistry, behavior and performance at nanoscale. Special consideration of novel research methodologies focused on lignin transformation and study of nanostructure-properties relationships as well as synergic effects with other compounds, will contribute to advancing in lignin nanoscience by understanding its behavior at nanoscale to create cutting-edge nano-systems with unique properties and desired features. Thus, opening new valorization routes for their application in different fields (i.e. cosmetics, coatings, biomedical, pharmacy, and electrochemistry) as antibacterial, UV absorber, antioxidant, drug delivery vehicle, etc.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, novel methods for the production of nanoparticles from lignin, integration of nanochemistry to control material properties, development of methodologies to study interactions of lignin-based nanomaterials and related mechanisms, synthesis of lignin-based hybrid materials, and applications of lignin-based entities in different fields.

Welcomed submissions include, but are not limited to:
• Innovative methods and technologies for conversion of irregular-sized lignin particles in uniform nanoparticles: nanoprecipitation, sonication, combination of existing technologies, development of continuous processes.
• Lignin chemistry at micro- and nanoscale: functionalization, particles formation and related mechanisms, interaction with other compounds.
• Design of lignin-based hybrid micro- and nano-entities: encapsulation of active molecules, combination with inorganic/organic compounds, chemical modification
• Structure–property–performance relationships determined by combining physical and chemical analyses
• Application and utilization of lignin-based micro- and nano-entities in cosmetics, coatings, biomedical, pharmacy, and electrochemistry fields.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Lignin application, lignin nanoparticles, lignin-based micro-and nano-entities, mechanisms and interactions, lignin conversion

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