The $η$-nucleon ($η$N) interactions are deduced from the heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory up to the next-to-leading-order terms. Combining the relativistic mean-field theory for nucleon system, we have studied the in-medium properties of $η$-meson. We find that all the elastic scattering $η$N interactions come from the next-to-leading-order terms. The $η$N sigma term is found to be about 280$\pm$130 MeV. The off-shell terms are also important to the in-medium properties of $η$-meson. On application of the latest determination of the $η$N scattering length, the ratio of $η$-meson effective mass to its vacuum value is near $0.84\pm0.015$, while the optical potential is about $-(83\pm5)$ MeV, at the normal nuclear density.

8 pages, 3 figures, to appear in PRC, many modifications