Nano‐Strategies for Lignin Biomaterials toward Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Lignin is a nontoxic and biocompatible biopolymer with many promising characteristics, including a high tensile strength and antioxidant properties. This natural polymer can be processed through several chemical methods and modified into lignin nanomaterials for potential biomedical applications. This review summarizes the latest developments in nanolignin (NL)-based biomaterials for cancer therapy; various NL applications related to cancer therapy are considered, including drug and gene delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. The manuscript also outlines the potential use of these materials to improve the therapeutic potency of chemotherapeutic drugs by decreasing their dose and reducing their adverse effects. Due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio and the easy modification of its chemical components, NL could serve as an appropriate matrix for the binding and controlled release of various pharmaceutical agents. Moreover, the challenges in the utilization of NL-based materials for cancer therapy are discussed, along with the prospects of advances in such nanomaterials for medical research applications.

Water-Soluble Alkali Lignin as a Natural Radical Scavenger and Anticancer Alternative

“…As we described above, the excellent antioxidant activity of lignin compounds provides a basis for their future thorough investigation as a drug-delivery system for various inflammatory diseases, including malignant diseases [ 64 ]. In recent years, various publications, which confirm our results and also demonstrate the effectiveness of lignin-based nanoparticles on cancer treatment, have been reported [ 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Different natural compounds isolated from plant extracts, which possess anti-inflammatory effects, have the potential to inhibit NOX (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase) activity and to decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [ 68 , 69 ].…”

Lignins as Promising Renewable Biopolymers and Bioactive Compounds for High-Performance Materials

“…The nanoparticles improved the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of the electrospun fiber meshes, leading to promise for wound healing applications [327]. [190] Nanolignin (NL) and its composites Cancer therapy drug and gene delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and tissue engineering; therapeutic potency of chemotherapeutic drugs by decreasing their dose and reducing their adverse effects [342] Lignin as decoration for multi-walled nanotubes/PVA-lignin fiber nanocomposites Antimicrobial properties Wound healing/tissue engineering [343] Lignosulfonate/PVA/chitosan 70% reduction in free radicals; good antibacterial abilities at 10% (w/w) lignin; wound healing [220] Kraft lignin/PVA/poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) electrospinning PVA-PGS-lignin fibers. Lignin incorporation promotes neural cell proliferation and differentiation.…”

Co-Administration of Chemo-Phototherapeutic Loaded Lignin Nanoarchitecture for the Treatment of Skin Cancer Cell Lines and Bacterial Infections

“…Along with antimicrobial activity, these polyphenol groups impart various other properties of lignin, such as adhesiveness, antioxidant, and UV protection. , Compared to traditional polymeric nanoparticles, these naturally derived lignin nanoparticles exhibit greater stimuli-responsiveness, biosafety, and minimal toxicity for drug delivery. , Our group has previously used lignin as a reducing agent as well as a matrix for the formulation of core–shell lignin-derived gold–silver nanocomplexes for antimicrobial applications . We have further derived many lignin-based nanoparticles and established their antioxidant, UV-blocking, and antimicrobial properties. , Earlier, various groups have used lignin nanoparticles as a carrier for drug delivery in cancers such as liver and cervical cancer due to its biocompatible nature and enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. − …”