Micro- and Nanomaterials in Food Science: Preparation, Characterization, and Application
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Engineering and Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: electrospinning; electrospraying; multifunctional micro/nanomaterials; food active and intelligent packaging; food bioactive delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: amyloid fibrillation; multifunctional hydrogel; antibacterial materials; discovery and application of food-derived antimicrobial active components
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Micro/nanostructured materials are currently attracting increased attention in food science. By tailoring size, morphology, surface chemistry, and hierarchical structure, these materials can deliver potent antimicrobial and antioxidant functionalities, enable intelligent real-time freshness sensing, achieve site-specific nutrient delivery, and markedly enhance bioavailability. These benefits and applications show the great significance and advantages of micro/nanotechnology in the area of food science and engineering. This Special Issue seeks to capture the latest breakthroughs in the micro/nanotechnology field, spanning from the design, synthesis, and characterization of micro/nanomaterials to their application in food science. We welcome high-quality original research, critical reviews, and short communications that address topics including, but not limited to, the following:
- Green, scalable, and economical synthesis routes of micro/nanomaterials;
- Active and intelligent packaging, edible coatings, food preservation, etc.;
- Nano-encapsulation and controlled release of ingredients (probiotics, minerals, antibacterial agents, antioxidants, flavors, etc.);
- Nanosensors, nano-biosensors, and lab-on-a-chip devices for rapid detection of pathogens, allergens, pesticide residues, etc.;
- Advanced characterization techniques for size, morphology, surface charge, aggregation state, and interfacial behavior in complex food matrices;
- Interactions with the food matrix, processing conditions (pH, ionic strength, temperature, shear), and the human gastrointestinal tract;
- In vitro and in vivo toxicology, gut microbiome impacts, allergenicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity studies;
- Regulatory perspectives, risk assessment frameworks, and consumer acceptance;
Dr. Kun Feng
Dr. Rongzu Nie
Dr. Yunshan Wei
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 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. Foods 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 2900 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
- food micro/nanotechnology
- micro/nanomaterials (films, gels, particles, emulsions, etc.)
- bioactive and intelligent food packaging
- micro/nano-based delivery systems
- mineral-based nanocomposites
- micro/nano-sensors
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