Converting lignin into useful colloidal entities with uniform size and shape offers exciting opportunities for utilization; however, this endeavor requires overcoming challenges caused by structural heterogeneity and gaining further understanding to exploit its unique functional possibilities. Still, colloidal lignin has already provided new insights into bio-polymeric materials and has triggered various innovative applications that have inspired the scientific community. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of the current understanding of colloidal lignin and its emergent applications. First, a fundamental overview of lignin, including its chemistry and processing is provided. Subsequently, a multitude of technical routes to tune the properties of colloidal lignin using nano-/micro-fabrication approaches to control macroscale properties is presented. Thereafter, examples of innovative material technologies based on colloidal lignin in areas such as pollution remediation, polymeric materials, macromolecular materials, and drug delivery are given. Finally, open challenges and suggestions for future research will be discussed to guide future research to rationally expand the portfolio of promising lignin-based technologies.

中文翻译：

---

胶体木质素增值：从大分子设计到针对性应用


将木质素转化为具有均匀尺寸和形状的有用胶体实体提供了令人兴奋的利用机会；然而，这一努力需要克服结构异质性带来的挑战，并进一步了解以利用其独特的功能可能性。尽管如此，胶体木质素已经为生物聚合材料提供了新的见解，并引发了各种创新应用，给科学界带来了启发。本综述旨在对胶体木质素的当前理解及其新兴应用进行全面讨论。首先，提供木质素的基本概述，包括其化学和加工。随后，提出了使用纳米/微米制造方法来控制宏观性能来调节胶体木质素性能的多种技术路线。随后，给出了基于胶体木质素的创新材料技术在污染修复、高分子材料、高分子材料和药物输送等领域的应用实例。最后，将讨论未来研究的开放挑战和建议，以指导未来的研究，合理扩展有前景的木质素技术组合。