Advanced Materials for Safe and Smart Food Packaging
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Coatings for Food Technology and System".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2026 | Viewed by 67
Special Issue Editor
Interests: smart and sustainable food packaging; biodegradable and recyclable materials; responsive bio-coatings; bio-based self-healing coatings and films; thermoresponsive and shape-memory polymers; real-time food quality monitoring; digital twins and AI-driven packaging design; predictive modeling of packaging performance and food quality
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Food packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety, quality, and sustainability throughout the supply chain. With the increasing demand for sustainable, functional, and intelligent packaging solutions, there is a growing need for advanced materials that enhance food protection while minimizing environmental impact. This Special Issue focuses on recent innovations in sustainable materials that not only provide barrier and antimicrobial properties but can also sense and respond to environmental conditions, making them suitable for real-time applications in food packaging.
The integration of data-driven approaches in the design of advanced materials is revolutionizing the development of functionalized coatings and smart packaging. The incorporation of nanomaterials, bio-based polymers, and intelligent sensors allows packaging to actively monitor and extend the shelf-lives of food products. Smart and active coatings that respond to temperature, humidity, or microbial contamination are emerging as next-generation solutions for food packaging. Additionally, AI-driven material design and predictive modeling are enabling sustainable packaging innovations with enhanced efficiency and performance.
Key topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Sustainable and biodegradable materials for food packaging with active and intelligent functionalities;
- Data-driven material design for advanced coatings and smart packaging applications;
- Smart and responsive coatings that detect and react to environmental changes (e.g., moisture, gases, contamination);
- Nanomaterials and functional bio-coatings for barrier enhancement, antimicrobial protection, and sensor integration;
- Real-time applications of intelligent packaging in food safety monitoring and shelf-life optimization;
- Regulatory and safety considerations related to novel food packaging materials.
This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, and case studies showcasing cutting-edge materials and technologies shaping the future of food packaging. We encourage interdisciplinary contributions from material science, data-driven research, food technology, and sustainability fields.
Dr. Deniz Turan
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 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.
Keywords
- sustainable and biodegradable smart materials
- active and responsive coatings
- data-driven material design for packaging
- nanomaterials for food safety and sensing
- real-time intelligent packaging applications
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.
