Announcements

1. “Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Spilanthol from Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K.Jansen”
by Fabian Alperth, Theresa Feistritzer, Melanie Huber, Olaf Kunert and Franz Bucar
Molecules 2024, 29(3), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030612
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/3/612

2. “Formulation of Ready-to-Use Broccoli Extracts Rich in Polyphenols and Glucosinolates Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents”
by Ivona Karaula, Emma Vasung, Anja Damjanović, Manuela Panić, Mia Radović, Kristina Radošević, Martina Bagović Kolić, Marina Cvjetko Bubalo and Ivana Radojčić Redovniković
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5794; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235794
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5794

3. “Extraction Optimization, Antioxidant, Cosmeceutical and Wound Healing Potential of Echinacea purpurea Glycerolic Extracts”
by Petar Ciganović, Lejsa Jakupović, Plamen Momchev, Laura Nižić Nodilo, Anita Hafner and Marijana Zovko Končić
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031177
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/3/1177

4. “Aromas: Lovely to Smell and Nice Solvents for Polyphenols? Curcumin Solubilisation Power of Fragrances and Flavours”
by Michael Schmidt, Verena Huber, Didier Touraud and Werner Kunz
Molecules 2024, 29(2), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020294
Available online: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020294

5. “Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from C. vulgaris Biomass Using Deep Eutectic Solvents”
by Maria Myrto Dardavila, Sofia Pappou, Maria G. Savvidou, Vasiliki Louli, Petros Katapodis, Haralambos Stamatis, Kostis Magoulas and Epaminondas Voutsas
Molecules 2023, 28(1), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010415
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/1/415

6. “Recent Advances in Supercritical CO₂ Extraction of Pigments, Lipids and Bioactive Compounds from Microalgae”
by Soultana Tzima, Ioulia Georgiopoulou, Vasiliki Louli and Kostis Magoulas
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031410
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/3/1410

7. “Green Extraction and Preliminary Biological Activity of Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides (HCPs) Obtained from Whole Undersized Unwanted Catches (Mugil cephalus L.)”
by Valentina Orlandi, Lorenzo Dondero, Federica Turrini, Giulia De Negri Atanasio, Federica Grasso, Elena Grasselli and Raffaella Boggia
Molecules 2023, 28(22), 7637; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28227637
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/22/7637

8. “From Waste to Value: Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Anthocyanins and Flavonols from Pistacia lentiscus L. Oilcakes”
by Lucrezia Muti, Luana Beatriz dos Santos Nascimento, Giulia Goracci, Cassandra Detti, Cecilia Brunetti, Anna Rita Bilia, Francesco Ferrini and Antonella Gori
Molecules 2025, 30(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020237
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/237

9. “A Comprehensive Review on Deep Eutectic Solvents: Their Current Status and Potential for Extracting Active Compounds from Adaptogenic Plants”
by Malgorzata Stanisz, Beata J. Stanisz and Judyta Cielecka-Piontek
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4767; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194767
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/19/4767

10. “Tuning Ferulic Acid Solubility in Choline-Chloride- and Betaine-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents: Experimental Determination and Machine Learning Modeling”
by Tomasz Jeliński, Maciej Przybyłek, Rafał Różalski, Karolina Romanek, Daniel Wielewski and Piotr Cysewski
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3841; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163841
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/16/3841

11. “Application of Green Technology to Extract Clean and Safe Bioactive Compounds from Tetradesmus obliquus Biomass Grown in Poultry Wastewater”
by Jelena Vladić, Jelena Molnar Jazić, Alice Ferreira, Snežana Maletić, Dragoljub Cvetković, Jasmina Agbaba, Senka Vidović and Luisa Gouveia
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2397; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052397
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/5/2397

12. “Grape Pomace as a Natural Source of Phenolic Compounds: Solvent Screening and Extraction Optimization”
by Rafaela P. Rodrigues, Ana M. Sousa, Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira and Margarida J. Quina
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062715
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/6/2715

13. “Enhanced Recovery of Natural Antioxidants from Grape Waste Using Natural Eutectic Solvents-Based Microwave-Assisted Extraction”
by Raquel Cañadas, Blanca Sáenz de Miera, Paloma Méndez, Emilio J. González and María González-Miquel
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031153
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/3/1153

14. “Latest Advances in Green Extraction of Polyphenols from Plants, Foods and Food By-Products”
by Andrea Palos-Hernández, Ana M. González-Paramás and Celestino Santos-Buelga
Molecules 2025, 30(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010055
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/1/55

15. “Shade of Innovative Food Processing Techniques: Potential Inducing Factors of Lipid Oxidation”
by Aziadé Chemat, Mengna Song, Ying Li and Anne-Sylvie Fabiano-Tixier
Molecules 2023, 28(24), 8138; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248138
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/24/8138

Conference: The 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS)
Date: 26–30 May 2025
Location: Strasbourg, France

MDPI will attend the 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Strasbourg, France, from 26 to 30 May 2025.

The 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) is organized by the European Materials Research Society and Foundation Jean-Marie Lehn.

The focus of the scientific program will be both on fundamental investigations and technological applications, providing an international forum for discussing recent advances relating to the different aspects of the promotion of innovation.

Topics include the following:

• Materials for photonics and electronics;
• Nanocomposites and hybrid materials;
• Materials for sustainable energy;
• Advanced characterization and computational design;
• Ecological and biomaterials.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Applied Nano;
• C;
• Crystals;
• CMD;
• Coatings;
• Construction Materials;
• Fibers;
• Molecules;
• Nanomanufacturing;
• Symmetry.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #28 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2025-spring-meeting.

Conference: The 32nd International Conference on Photochemistry
Date: 13–18 July 2025
Location: Aachen, Germany

MDPI will be attending the 32nd International Conference on Photochemistry as an exhibitor. The conference will be held from 13 to 18 July 2025. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

The 32nd International Conference on Photochemistry is jointly organized by the RWTH Aachen University and the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

The conference will focus on the following topics:

• Frontiers in photochemical sciences;
• The photophysics and photochemistry of solar energy conversion;
• Pushing the spectroscopic and microscopic limits of single molecules;
• Photoswitches for super-resolution fluorescence microscopy;
• Plasmonics & photonics;
• Photochemical reaction kinetics and mechanisms;
• Industrial photochemistry;
• Photochemistry and the sustainable environment;
• New theoretical tools in photochemistry;
• Advanced spectroscopic methods;
• Molecular photomedicine;
• Photoredox catalysis;
• Enriching materials science with photochemistry;
• Light-Driven Functional Molecular Systems.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Photochem;
• Chemistry;
• Solids;
• Molecules;
• Energies;
• Photonics;
• Chemosensors;
• Colorants.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.icp2025.de/.

We would like to inform you that, following the recommendation of our Editor-in-Chief, the “Bioactive Lipids” Section will be closed as part of our ongoing efforts to optimize the journal’s structure.

This decision has been made to enhance the focus and efficiency of our journal, ensuring the best possible experience for our contributors and readers.

We sincerely appreciate the valuable contributions made to this section and thank our authors, reviewers, and readers for their continued support. Submissions related to bioactive lipids may still be considered under other relevant sections of the journal.

For more information about journal sections, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/sections.

Molecules Editorial Office

1. “Recent Advances of Modified Ni (Co, Fe)-Based LDH 2D Materials for Water Splitting”
by Chenguang Li, Yupeng Bao, Enzhou Liu, Binran Zhao and Tao Sun
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1475; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031475
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/3/1475

2. “Comparison of In Situ and Postsynthetic Formation of MOF-Carbon Composites as Electrocatalysts for the Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER)”
by Linda Sondermann, Laura Maria Voggenauer, Annette Vollrath, Till Strothmann and Christoph Janiak
Molecules 2025, 30(2), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020208
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/208

3. “Cutting-Edge Electrocatalysts for CO2RR”
by Nivetha Jeyachandran, Wangchao Yuan and Cristina Giordano
Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3504; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083504
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/8/3504

4. “Highly Porous Carbon Flakes Derived from Cellulose and Nickel Phosphide Heterostructure towards Efficient Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction”
by Ewa Mijowska, Karolina Pietrusewicz and Klaudia Maślana
Molecules 2024, 29(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020352
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/2/352

5. “Effect of Calcination Temperature on the Activity of Unsupported IrO₂ Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzers”
by Angeliki Banti, Kalliopi Maria Papazisi, Stella Balomenou and Dimitrios Tsiplakides
Molecules 2023, 28(15), 5827; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155827
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/15/5827

6. “Graphene Materials from Coke-like Wastes as Proactive Support of Nickel–Iron Electro-Catalysts for Water Splitting”
by María González-Ingelmo, Victoria G. Rocha, Zoraida González, Uriel Sierra, Enrique Diaz Barriga and Patricia Álvarez
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061391
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/6/1391

7. “Applications of Ferric Oxide in Water Splitting by Electrolysis: A Comprehensive Review”
by Bruno G. Pollet and Shankara S. Kalanur
Molecules 2024, 29(21), 4990; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29214990
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/21/4990

8. “Electrografting of Phenyl Phosphate Layers onto Glassy Carbon for Tuning Catalytic Activity toward the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction”
by Zaynab Atyf, Quentin Lenne and Jalal Ghilane
Molecules 2024, 29(4), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29040835
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/4/835

9. “RuO₂ Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution in Acidic Media: Mechanism, Activity Promotion Strategy and Research Progress”
by Jirong Bai, Wangkai Zhou, Jinnan Xu, Pin Zhou, Yaoyao Deng, Mei Xiang, Dongsheng Xiang and Yaqiong Su
Molecules 2024, 29(2), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020537
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/2/537

10. “Efficient Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Catalysis Using 3D-Structured Nickel Phosphosulfide Nanosheets in Alkaline Media”
by Lei Lin, Qiang Fu, Junbei Hu, Ran Wang and Xianjie Wang
Molecules 2023, 28(1), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010315
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/1/315

11. “A Review of Stoichiometric Nickel Sulfide-Based Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media”
by Yeji Choi, Jun-Hee Lee and Duck Hyun Youn
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4975; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204975
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/20/4975

12. “Room-Temperature Synthesis of Carbon-Nanotube-Interconnected Amorphous NiFe-Layered Double Hydroxides for Boosting Oxygen Evolution Reaction”
by Zhuo Chen, Qiang Qu, Xinsheng Li, Katam Srinivas, Yuanfu Chen and Mingqiang Zhu
Molecules 2023, 28(21), 7289; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28217289
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/21/7289

13. “Enhancement of Electrocatalytic and Pseudocapacitive Properties as a Function of Structural Order in A₂Fe₂O₅ (A = Sr, Ba)”
by Surendra B. Karki and Farshid Ramezanipour
Molecules 2023, 28(16), 5947; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28165947
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/16/5947

14. “Thermochemical Activation of Wood with NaOH, KOH and H₃PO₄ for the Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Nanoporous Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Reaction”
by Galina Dobele, Aleksandrs Volperts, Ance Plavniece, Aivars Zhurinsh, Daina Upskuviene, Aldona Balciunaite, Gediminas Niaura, Luis César Colmenares-Rausseo, Loreta Tamasauskaite-Tamasiunaite and Eugenijus Norkus
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2238; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102238
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/10/2238

15. “Platinum/Platinum Sulfide on Sulfur-Doped Carbon Nanosheets with Multiple Interfaces toward High Hydrogen Evolution Activity”
by Mou Zhang, Mengfei Su, Chunyan Zhang, Feng Gao and Qingyi Lu
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4570; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194570
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/19/4570

Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049) owes much of its success and esteemed reputation to the dedication of the Editorial Board Members. The Editorial Office deeply appreciates the hard work and commitment of our editors. Thus, the Molecules Editor of Distinction Award is granted annually to acknowledge our Editorial Board Members’ exceptional contributions to maintaining the journal’s high international standards. This award honors four Editorial Board Members every year, and the winners are announced by the end of March the following year.

Prizes:

• Four winners: CHF 500 and a certificate each.

Eligibility for the Award:

• All Editorial Board Members, excluding the Editor-in-Chief and Section Editors-in-Chief;
• Contributions made in 2025.

MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. 

To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data. 

This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide. 

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.

Authors are increasingly interested in having their papers published as a cover story in Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049). There were 24 cover stories published in 2024. These cover stories reported important research results, or innovative methods, and presented impressive images. To reward the authors who have published important research results in Molecules, we are announcing the Molecules 2024 most popular cover selection.

Four cover stories will be chosen from the stories published in 2024, and each will receive CHF 100. The criteria that will be considered for selection are as follows:

• Importance or innovation of the research;
• Quality of the cover image.

The voting will be open from 24 February 2025 to 24 March 2025.

To cast your vote, please visit the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NXNCZQZ.

The winners will be announced on the journal website by the end of April 2025.

MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.

Honoring Excellence in Research

The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:

Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:

• Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
• Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
• Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.

Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:

• Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;

• Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
• Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.

Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.

Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.

Conference: ACS Spring 2025
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 23−27 March 2025
Place: San Diego, CA, USA
Booth ID: 3749

A number of MDPI journals will be attending ACS Spring 2025 as exhibitors, an exciting event being held in San Diego, CA, USA, from 23 to 27 March 2025.

ACS Meetings & Expositions are the prime location for chemistry professionals to meet in order to exchange ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. By attracting thousands of professionals in the field of chemistry, the meetings provide excellent opportunities for peers to engage with one another and share their passion for chemistry, connecting with one of the world's largest scientific societies and helping to advance careers in this ever-changing global field.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Molecules;
• Crystals;
• DDC;
• Laboratories;
• Materials;
• Polymers;
• Separations;
• Analytica;
• AppliedChem;
• Batteries;
• Chemistry;
• Fibers;
• Inorganics;
• Molbank;
• Organics;
• Reactions.

If you are attending the above conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth, booth #3749. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

Of the participating journals, one is celebrating its anniversary:

The year 2025 also marks the 10th anniversary of Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105), a peer-reviewed, open access journal of chemistry, published online on a monthly basis by MDPI. With an Impact Factor of 4.6 and a CiteScore of 4.0, the journal is indexed in Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, Ei Compendex, CAPlus/SciFinder, and other databases.

We value the contributions made by our editors, authors, and reviewers.