Lignin nanoparticles have drawn wide attention because of their biodegradable, biocompatible and specific surface area. Lignin tend to form aggregates in water via hydrophobic effect. Here, we study the amphiphilic interfacial of corncob lignin (CL) using different types of N-alkane. Four types of alkylated CL with similar chemical properties, but different surface hydrophobic characteristics have been successfully prepared. N-alkane and aromatic skeleton belonging to internal hydrophobic attraction force are the important driving force inducing CL to aggregate. The hydrophilic repulsive force induce CL to dissolve in water and hindered CL from associating. We find that modulating these two opposite force can endow lignin nanoparticles some tunable surface properties. Results show that the structure of CL can affect the size and the stability of lignin nanoparticles. The higher hydrophobicity and longer alkyl chain, the smaller size of lignin nanoparticles. The average diameters of lignin nanoparticles can reduce from 400 nm to 100 nm controlling by N-alkane. What's more, lignin nanoparticles can disperse stably in water for 90 days and at pH 4-10 for 30 days. In order to valorize it, the efficient delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs by lignin nanoparticles are fully studied. Finally, we design a microchannel device to prepare lignin nanobowls and realize its large scale preparation.

New insight on the preparation of lignin nanoparticles

2019 Spring National Meeting

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