Application of Biology to Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: preventive conservation; cultural heritage; biocides; biodiversity; biodeterioration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Fitolab, Laboratory for Phytopathology, Instituto Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: mycology; biodeterioration; cultural heritage; genetics; phytopathology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Works of art (whether paintings, sculptures, archival materials, architectural surfaces, monuments, or archaeological artefacts) are living interfaces between human creativity and the surrounding environment. As such, they are continually vulnerable to a wide spectrum of biological agents and biodeterioration processes. Understanding these processes is essential for preserving our shared heritage in a rapidly changing world. On the other hand, biological treatments for the conservation and restoration of works of art, often categorized as bioconservation or even as bioremediation in some cases, represent a significant and sustainable advancement in the field of art conservation, offering a highly selective alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods.
This Special Issue, “Application of Biology to Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art,” invites contributions that address the biological dimensions of cultural heritage conservation and restoration. We welcome original research papers, comprehensive reviews, case studies, and methodological advances. All aspects of biodeterioration, including the identification of biological causes, their modes of action, diagnostic techniques, and the development of both traditional and innovative treatments, are also welcome. Works on detailing the analysis and testing of macro- and microorganisms that affect the preservation of cultural heritage, as well as the implementation of effective prevention strategies, will also be considered. A critical focus is placed on the imperative for sustainability in conservation practices and the growing impact of climatic changes, which are deeply altering the decay conditions of heritage materials and challenging established conservation approaches.
Dr. Maria Filomena Macedo
Dr. António Manuel Santos Carriço Portugal
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- cultural heritage
- biodeterioration
- conservation and restoration
- preservation
- treatments
- biocides
- biodiversity
- climatic changes
- sustainability
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