Enzyme Design, Engineering and Applications in Efficient Biocatalysis
A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Biocatalysis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 14
Special Issue Editors
Interests: enzyme design; biocatalysis; synthetic biology; pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Enzyme design and engineering have emerged as transformative drivers in efficient biocatalysis, revolutionizing the landscape of sustainable chemical synthesis. Notably, the precise modulation of enzyme structure and function–enabled by advances in (semi) rational and computational design–has overcome inherent limitations such as poor stability, narrow substrate scope, and low catalytic efficiency, unlocking vast industrial potential. To date, thousands of engineered enzymes have been developed for diverse catalytic reactions, and the field continues to expand at an accelerating pace, standing as one of the most vibrant and impactful areas in modern biotechnology.
Efficient biocatalysis plays an increasingly indispensable role in green manufacturing, offering remarkable advantages, including high chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivity, mild reaction conditions, and minimal environmental footprint, compared to traditional chemical catalysis. Over the past two decades, engineered enzymes have been widely applied in key sectors such as pharmaceutical synthesis, fine chemical production, food processing, and bioremediation. The inherent sustainability, recyclability, and specificity of engineered enzymes make them superior catalysts for addressing global challenges in sustainable development.
This Special Issue covers all aspects of enzyme-related biocatalysis, including enzyme design principles, engineering methodologies, structural–functional characterization, and practical applications in molecular transformations. Both original research articles reporting novel findings and comprehensive review papers/perspectives summarizing cutting-edge progress in the field are warmly welcome.
The primary area of focus spans a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary research, centering on the integration of enzyme design, engineering, and efficient biocatalysis to address real-world challenges in sustainable production and biotechnology.
Prof. Dr. Xiaoling Tang
Dr. Xue Cai
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. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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
- enzyme design
- biocatalysis
- synthetic biology
- pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

