Marine-Derived Functional Ingredients: Cellular Pathways, Human Health, and Sustainable Bioprocessing
A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine-Derived Ingredients for Drugs, Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 359
Editor
Interests: marine bioactives; cellular signalling; human health; omics; molecular profiling; microbiome interactions; functional ingredients; sustainable bioprocessing; bio-based systems innovation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Marine-derived functional ingredients represent an increasingly dynamic frontier in human health science. Rapid advances in molecular profiling, bioactivity screening, and sustainable bioprocessing have revealed a diverse repertoire of high-value bioactives sourced from macroalgae, marine microalgae, marine microorganisms, and responsibly utilised marine by-products. These include complex polysaccharides, polyphenols, peptides, lipids, pigments, sterols, enzymes, and postbiotic metabolites with demonstrated relevance for cellular signalling pathways, metabolic regulation, immune modulation, skin function, gut–microbiome dynamics, and broader physiological resilience.
This Special Issue invites cutting-edge research that elucidates the molecular, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms underpinning the bioactivity of marine-derived ingredients. We are particularly interested in studies that explore human-relevant pathways, apply omics technologies, integrate structural and compositional characterisation, and advance the understanding of bioavailability, stability, and functional performance.
We also welcome research on sustainable bioprocessing, integrated biorefinery approaches, and resource-efficient utilisation of marine biomass that supports the development of human-health bioactives.
Dr. Helena McMahon
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. Marine Drugs 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 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
- marine bioactives
- macroalgae and marine microalgae
- marine polysaccharides (fucoidan, laminarin)
- phlorotannins and marine polyphenols
- marine peptides and lipids
- cellular pathways and signalling
- gut–microbiome interactions
- bioavailability and functional performance
- sustainable bioprocessing
- omics and molecular profiling
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