Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Leveraging the molecular complexity of lignin for high-performance bio-based materials

Nature Reviews Materials volume 11, pages 255–257 (2026)Cite this article

Subjects

Lignin forms the polyphenolic network in wood that enables trees to stand upright, transport water and ions, and resist microbial attack. Although its structural complexity is often seen as a limitation, its inherent multifunctionality offers opportunities. By strategically harnessing these features, new directions for advanced lignin-based materials can emerge.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Past, present and possible future research directions for lignin nanoparticles and related materials.

References

  1. Lievonen, M. et al. A simple process for lignin nanoparticle preparation. Green Chem. 18, 1416–1422 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sipponen, M. H., Lange, H., Ago, M. & Crestini, C. Understanding lignin aggregation processes. A case study: budesonide entrapment and stimuli controlled release from lignin nanoparticles. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 6, 9342–9351 (2018).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Moreno, A. & Sipponen, M. H. Biocatalytic nanoparticles for the stabilization of degassed single electron transfer-living radical pickering emulsion polymerizations. Nat. Commun. 11, 5599 (2020).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Morsali, M., Moreno, A., Loukovitou, A., Pylypchuk, I. & Sipponen, M. H. Stabilized lignin nanoparticles for versatile hybrid and functional nanomaterials. Biomacromolecules 23, 4597–4606 (2022).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Moreno, A. et al. Unravelling the hydration barrier of lignin oleate nanoparticles for acid- and base-catalyzed functionalization in dispersion state. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 20897–20905 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rossato, L. A. M. et al. Phospholipase D immobilization on lignin nanoparticles for enzymatic transformation of phospholipids. ChemSusChem 17, e202300803 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sipponen, M. H. et al. Spatially confined lignin nanospheres for biocatalytic ester synthesis in aqueous media. Nat. Commun. 9, 2300 (2018).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Pylypchuk, I. V. et al. Molecular understanding of the morphology and properties of lignin nanoparticles: unravelling the potential for tailored applications. Green Chem. 25, 4415–4428 (2023).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Li, Q. et al. Enhancing the multi-functional properties of renewable lignin carbon fibers via defining the structure–property relationship using different biomass feedstocks. Green Chem. 23, 3725–3739 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wan, X. et al. Circular poly(ethylene terephthalate) with lignin-based toughening additives. Chem. Eng. J. 504, 158255 (2025).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) through the Wallenberg Wood Science Center (KAW 2021.0313) and the European Union (ERC, CIRCULIG, Project 101075487). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mika H. Sipponen

  2. Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mika H. Sipponen

Authors
  1. Mika H. Sipponen
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mika H. Sipponen.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sipponen, M.H. Leveraging the molecular complexity of lignin for high-performance bio-based materials. Nat Rev Mater 11, 255–257 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-026-00910-w

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-026-00910-w

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing