Polymeric Edible Coatings: Synthesis, Properties, and Cross-Industry Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Biodegradable and edible polymeric coatings—derived from chitosan, starch, alginate, PLA, and other natural polymers—have rapidly gained attention for their ability to protect perishable goods, medical devices, and flexible electronics. When reinforced with antimicrobial nanomaterials (e.g., Ag, ZnO, NiFe₂O₄, carbon-based fillers), these coatings exhibit superior barrier properties, mechanical strength, and long-lasting biocidal action. In horticulture, they suppress post-harvest pathogens to extend shelf life; in catalysis, they serve as thin-film reactors with built-in antimicrobial surfaces; and in wearable electronics, they offer anti-fouling, biocompatible, wear-resistant layers. This multidisciplinary area sits squarely at the nexus of Materials Science, Biodegradable Polymers, Antimicrobial Nanotechnology, and Polymeric Hybrids, aligning with Coatings’ focus on innovative, high-impact coating solutions.

This Special Issue aims to compile at least ten high-quality contributions on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of biodegradable, edible polymeric coatings reinforced with antimicrobial nanomaterials. We seek studies that:

• Demonstrate enhanced food safety and post-harvest preservation in horticultural products.
• Develop catalytic or filtration coatings with inherent antimicrobial activity.
• Enable next-generation wearable and flexible electronics through biocompatible, anti-fouling, and wear-resistant films.

By uniting advances in Antimicrobial Polymers, Thin Film Coatings, Edible Coatings, and Coatings for Wearable Electronics, this collection aligns perfectly with the journal’s Aims and Scope. Should we reach our target number of articles, the Special Issue will be offered in book form, serving as a definitive reference for both researchers and industry practitioners.

Themes:

• Biopolymer Synthesis and Modification: Novel green routes for chitosan, starch, alginate, PLA, PHA derivatives.
• Nanomaterial Reinforcements: Metal (Ag, Cu), metal-oxides (ZnO, NiFe₂O₄), carbon hybrids.
• Structure–Property Relationships: Linking nanoscale dispersion to mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial performance.
• Horticulture and Food Packaging: Edible films for disease prevention and controlled release of natural antimicrobials.
• Catalysis and Filtration: Functional thin films with catalytic/antimicrobial dual roles.
• Wear-Resistant and Anti-fouling Systems: Coatings for flexible electronics and biomedical devices.
• Sustainability Assessments: Biodegradation studies, life-cycle analysis, eco-toxicology.
• Scale-up and Implementation: Pilot-scale coating techniques, regulatory considerations.

Article Types:

• Original Research: Full experimental/computational studies introducing new materials or mechanisms.
• Reviews: In-depth analyses of current trends in antimicrobial edible coatings and nanotechnology.
• Short Communications: Rapid reports of breakthrough findings or novel methods.
• Perspectives: Expert opinions on challenges, standardization, and future directions.

We invite submissions from academia, national laboratories, and industry to showcase the next generation of wear-resistant, biodegradable, and antimicrobial polymeric coatings across various applications, from horticulture to electronics.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Dilawar Hassan
Guest Editor

Dr. Ayesha Sani
Guest Editor Assistant

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Coatings 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 2600 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.

• biodegradable polymer coatings
• antimicrobial nanocoatings
• edible coatings
• polymeric hybrid coatings
• wearable electronics coatings