Nanoscale Interactions at the Bio-Interface: From Model Membranes to Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a high-impact platform for the latest advances in understanding complex phenomena at the intersection of nanotechnology and membrane biophysics. We invite original research articles and comprehensive reviews that bridge fundamental interfacial mechanisms with their translation into biomedical, environmental, and technological applications.

We welcome submissions including, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Advanced Model Membrane Architectures: Development and characterization of biomimetic systems, including asymmetric bilayers, phase-separated lipid rafts, and membrane protein-embedded models.
• Nanomaterial–Membrane Interplay: Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of interactions involving novel nanoparticles (e.g., MOFs, MXenes, 2D materials) and biological nanostructures such as exosomes and virus-like particles.
• Mechanistic Biophysics: Investigations of membrane curvature effects, lipid flipping, lateral diffusion, and nanostructure-induced pore formation, fusion, or budding.
• Computational Modeling and Theory: Multiscale simulations from all-atom molecular dynamics to coarse-grained and continuum models, including the integration of machine learning for predictive biointerface analysis.
• High-Resolution Characterization: Applications of advanced techniques such as high-speed AFM, super-resolution microscopy, synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering, and vibrational spectroscopies (SFG, SERS).
• Biomedical, Environmental, and Nanotoxicological Implications: Research on targeted drug and gene delivery systems, antimicrobial peptide–membrane interactions, nanotoxicity mechanisms, and the impact of microplastics and pollution particles on biological interfaces.
• Bioreactor Interfaces: Biofouling phenomena, microbe–membrane interactions, and cell-adhesion mechanisms at biointerfaces under static and dynamic conditions.
• Advanced Filtering Processes: Design of antifouling and “smart” separation membranes inspired by biointerface interactions for biotechnology and environmental remediation.

Prof. Dr. Konstantin T. Balashev
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes 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 2200 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.