The field of biomaterials has seen a strong rejuvenation due to the new potential to modulate immune system in our body. This special class of materials is called“immunomodulatory biomaterials”. Generally, three fundamental strategies are followed in the design of immunomodulatory biomaterials: (1) immuno-inert biomaterials, (2) immuno-activating biomaterials, and (3) immuno-tolerant biomaterials. While many applications of immuno-inert biomaterials such as biocompatible medical implants have been already proposed in the past decades, the ability to engineer biological activity into synthetic materials greatly increases the number of their potential uses and improves their performance in more traditional applications. The major focus of researchers is now set on developing immuno-tolerant biomaterials for anti-inflammatory therapies. In this review, we therefore introduce recent developments of immuno-tolerant biomaterials. Especially we introduce an apoptotic cell membrane inspired polymer and its post-inflammatory effects on immune cells in this article.

Nanocellulose, a plant-derived nanomaterial, has been attracting attention as a functional material with low environmental impact because it exhibits remarkable material properties that reflect the properties of cellulose in the characteristics of nanofibers. However, in order to promote the practical use of nanocellulose, it is essential to find applications that take advantage of the unique characteristics of nanocellulose. In this review, we focus on the components other than cellulose contained in nanocellulose, and summarize the localization of hemicellulose and lignin, which constitute wood, and the effects of these components. In addition, we also summarize the characteristics of nanocellulose prepared from agricultural by-products, which are composed of various components different from wood, and the potential of nanocellulose for food use.

An aerosol flow reactor was used for the first time for high-throughput, high yield synthesis of spherical lignin particles with given inherent hydrophilicity, depending on the precursor biomolecule. In-situ fractionation via Berner type impactor afforded populations with characteristic sizes ranging from ~30 nm to 2 µm. The as-produced, dry lignin particles displayed excellent mechanical integrity, even after re-dispersion under high shear in either mineral oil or water. They were effective in the stabilization of oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions with tunable droplet size, depending on the dimension of the lignin particles used for emulsification. The emulsion stability correlated with particle concentration as well as the respective lignin type. For the O/W emulsions stabilized with the more hydrophilic lignin particles, negligible changes in phase separation via Ostwald ripening and coalescence were observed over a period of time of more than two months. Together with the fact that the lignin particle concentrations used in emulsification were as low as 0.1 %, our results reveal a remarkable ability to endow emulsified systems with high colloidal stability. Overall, we offer a new, high-yield, scalable nano-manufacturing approach to producing dry spherical lignin particles with size control and high production capacity. A number of emerging applications for these organic particles can be envisioned and, as a proof-of-concept, we illustrate here surfactant-free emulsification.