Exclusive Review Papers in 'Cellular Biophysics'

Dear Colleagues,

Cellular biophysics is a dynamic interdisciplinary field that applies physical principles and quantitative methods to elucidate the structures, dynamics, mechanics, and functions of cells and their molecular components. Recent breakthroughs in single-molecule techniques, super-resolution imaging, force spectroscopy, optogenetics, and concepts such as liquid–liquid phase separation and active matter physics have dramatically advanced our understanding of how physical forces shape cellular life—from membrane organization and cytoskeletal remodeling to mechanotransduction and nuclear architecture.

This Special Issue, entitled “Exclusive Review Papers in 'Cellular Biophysics'”, aims to collect high-quality, authoritative review articles that provide critical syntheses of recent progress, evaluate current challenges, and offer forward-looking perspectives across the entire spectrum of the field. As a collection exclusively comprising review papers, it will serve as a comprehensive and timely reference for researchers, students, and clinicians seeking in-depth overviews of cutting-edge developments in cellular biophysics.

We welcome comprehensive reviews, focused critical reviews, and perspective articles on (but not limited to) the following topics:

Membrane and Organelle Biophysics

• Membrane structure, lipid rafts, curvature, and lipid–protein interactions;
• Ion channels, transporters, pumps, and membrane signaling;
• Intracellular membrane trafficking and organelle mechanics.

Cytoskeleton and Cellular Mechanics

• Cytoskeletal dynamics, motor proteins, and intracellular transport;
• Cellular rheology, viscoelasticity, and active matter physics;
• Cell adhesion, migration, division, and tissue-scale mechanics.

Mechanobiology and Force Transmission

• Mechanotransduction pathways and cellular force sensing;
• Nuclear mechanics, chromatin organization, and genome biophysics;
• Mechanical signaling in development, homeostasis, and disease.

Phase Separation and Emerging Frontiers

• Liquid–liquid phase separation and biomolecular condensates;
• Bioelectricity and electrochemical gradients in cells;
• Biophysical principles in synthetic cells and bottom-up synthetic biology.

Quantitative and Technical Approaches

• Single-molecule biophysics and single-cell analysis;
• Advanced imaging and force spectroscopy (super-resolution microscopy, AFM, optical tweezers, traction force microscopy, etc.);
• Computational modeling, theoretical biophysics, and quantitative network theory.

Researchers from related fields are warmly encouraged to contribute review papers highlighting the latest developments in cellular biophysics. We also particularly invite Editorial Board Members, Section Editors, and leading experts to submit manuscripts or to invite colleagues to contribute to this Special Issue.

Potential contributors are kindly requested to send a tentative title and short abstract to the Editorial Office (cells@mdpi.com) for pre-evaluation. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer review and, if accepted, will be published on an ongoing basis with full open access.

We look forward to your valuable contributions, which will help shape the current state and future directions of cellular biophysics research.

Prof. Dr. Roger Schneiter
Guest Editor

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. Cells 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 2700 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.

• cellular biophysics
• membrane biophysics
• cytoskeletal dynamics
• cellular mechanics
• mechanotransduction
• phase separation
• molecular motors
• bioelectricity
• single-molecule techniques
• computational biophysics
• mechanobiology
• active matter