Shaping Macrophages Polarization as an Emerging Therapeutic Approach
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2026) | Viewed by 2841
Editor
Interests: medicinal chemistry; synthesis and biological evaluation of new small molecules for the therapy of cancer; inflammatory diseases and infections; extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Macrophages play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and defending against pathogens. Their ability to adopt different functional states, known as polarization, makes them key players in various physiological and pathological processes. Harnessing the ability to shape macrophage polarization holds promising therapeutic potential for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disorders. Several strategies are being explored to influence macrophage polarization, including the use of cytokines, small molecules, and nanoparticles. Small molecules and drugs can also be designed to target specific signaling pathways involved in macrophage polarization. Despite the promising potential, several challenges remain in translating macrophage polarization modulation into clinical therapies. Further research is necessary to understand the detailed mechanisms of macrophage polarization and to develop more precise and effective methods for their modulation. In this special issue we will focus on molecular studies unravelling the detailed mechanisms of macrophage polarization, as well as on innovative strategies for macrophages plasticity modulation and on their use in specific disease conditions, including drug resistance. Original research articles and reviews will be considered for publication.
Dr. Cristina Maccallini
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- macrophage polarization
- M1 macrophages
- M2 macrophages
- immune modulation
- small molecules
- therapeutic strategies
- inflammation
- cancer immunotherapy
- drug resistance
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.
