Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.6
4.6
Journals
Molecules
Special Issues
The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry
molecules-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2796

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ashok Kakkar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
Interests: nanostructures; soft nanoparticles; macromolecules; dendrimers; miktoarm polymers; telodendrimers; naked nanocarriers; metal nanoparticles; gold nanoshells; iron oxide nanoparticles; nanomedicine; drug delivery; diagnostics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In 2026, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Molecules. Over the past three decades, Molecules has established a strong and influential presence in the chemistry literature, with a Journal Impact Factor of 4.6 (2024) and a 5-Year Impact Factor of 5.0 (2024).

On behalf of the Editor-in-Chief of the nanochemistry section, we sincerely appreciate Professor Katsuhiko Ariga, Professor Jean-Pierre Majoral, and Professor Gerard van Koten for approving the establishment of their themed Special Issue. It is a great honor for our section to have their support and leadership. To date, the Nanochemistry Section has published over 1,000 papers, marking a significant milestone in the development of our section.

Our sincerest thanks go to our readers, authors, anonymous peer reviewers, editors, and everyone who has contributed to the journal in any capacity. Without your continued support, this achievement would not have been possible.

To commemorate this important milestone, we are pleased to launch this Special Issue, titled "The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry." This Special Issue welcomes communications, full research articles, and high-quality review papers covering all aspects of nanochemistry. We warmly invite and encourage research groups from diverse nanochemistry fields to contribute their latest findings. 

Prof. Dr. Ashok Kakkar
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. Molecules 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 2700 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

  • nanochemistry
  • nanoscale materials
  • nanocrystals
  • nanostructures
  • nanotubes
  • nanofabrication
  • nanomedicine
  • metal nanoparticles

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.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 424 KB  
Article
Design, Synthesis, and Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic 1,4-Dihydropyridines Containing Branched Ester Moieties
by Davis Lacis, Martins Rucins, Nadiia Pikun, Ruslans Muhamadejevs, Karlis Pajuste, Mara Plotniece, Juris Jansons, Anna Zajakina, Arkadij Sobolev and Aiva Plotniece
Molecules 2026, 31(7), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31071161 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 327
Abstract
Amphiphilic cationic lipids based on the 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) scaffold represent a versatile platform for the development of self-assembling delivery systems. In this work, a series of ten new amphiphilic 1,4-DHP derivatives bearing branched ester substituents at the 3,5-positions and quaternized cationic groups at [...] Read more.
Amphiphilic cationic lipids based on the 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) scaffold represent a versatile platform for the development of self-assembling delivery systems. In this work, a series of ten new amphiphilic 1,4-DHP derivatives bearing branched ester substituents at the 3,5-positions and quaternized cationic groups at the 2,6-positions were designed and synthesized. The effect of branched ester chain length and branching on nanoparticle formation was investigated. The self-assembling properties of the synthesized amphiphiles were evaluated by dynamic light scattering using an ethanol injection method. All compounds formed positively charged nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 52 to 439 nm and polydispersity index from 0.194 to 0.452. Amphiphiles 14b–17b with 2-hexyldecyl substituents formed smaller particles, with an average diameter below 100 nm. Several derivatives exhibited good stability over a 14-day storage period at room temperature. To clarify structure–property relationships, lipophilicity (AlogP), polar surface area (PSA), and pKa values were calculated using Schrödinger computational tools. The compounds displayed high lipophilicity AlogP 8.98–19.32, while PSA values remained within a narrow range. The calculated pKa values ranged from 7.20 to 10.99. The results demonstrate that both the length and architecture of branched ester chains significantly influence nanoparticle size, homogeneity, and stability, highlighting branched-chain 1,4-DHP amphiphiles as promising synthetic lipid candidates for further development of delivery systems after evaluation of biological properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4806 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation and Artificial Intelligence-Based Modeling of Novel Biodiesel Fuels Containing Hybrid Nanoparticle Additives
by Muhammed Mustafa Uyar, Ahmet Beyzade Demirpolat and Aydın Çıtlak
Molecules 2026, 31(6), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31060992 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 323
Abstract
This work investigates the influence of hybrid NiO–SiO2 nanoparticles on the engine behavior of biodiesel derived from waste sunflower oil and evaluates the experimental outcomes using a data-driven modeling approach. Biodiesel was produced via transesterification and doped with nanoparticles at concentrations of [...] Read more.
This work investigates the influence of hybrid NiO–SiO2 nanoparticles on the engine behavior of biodiesel derived from waste sunflower oil and evaluates the experimental outcomes using a data-driven modeling approach. Biodiesel was produced via transesterification and doped with nanoparticles at concentrations of 50, 75, and 100 ppm. Performance and emission tests were conducted on a single-cylinder diesel engine operating at constant speed under varying loads. Specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, CO, HC, NOx, smoke opacity, and exhaust gas temperature were recorded and analyzed. The incorporation of nanoparticles improved combustion quality and contributed to substantial reductions in harmful emissions. The WSOB20 blend containing 100 ppm NiO–SiO2 provided the most balanced results, decreasing CO, HC, and smoke emissions by 39.50%, 39.40%, and 35.20%, respectively, relative to diesel fuel, while preserving competitive thermal efficiency. A linear regression model developed for CO prediction produced a low mean squared error (1.08 × 10−5), indicating strong predictive capability. The findings confirm that hybrid nanoparticle additives can enhance biodiesel performance while supporting accurate emission forecasting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3529 KB  
Article
The Effects of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles on the Cryopreservation of Angora Buck Sperm
by Ali Erdem Öztürk, Mustafa Bodu, Yunus Emre Atay, Serpil Sarıözkan, Derya Şahin, Oya Korkmaz, İsmail Öçsoy and Mustafa Hitit
Molecules 2026, 31(6), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31060955 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 534
Abstract
Nano-graphene oxide (NGO) is a nanomaterial that has been frequently used in the fields of health and bioengineering in recent years. However, its potential use in semen cryopreservation is still in the exploratory phase. In this study, Angora bucks, a breed with low [...] Read more.
Nano-graphene oxide (NGO) is a nanomaterial that has been frequently used in the fields of health and bioengineering in recent years. However, its potential use in semen cryopreservation is still in the exploratory phase. In this study, Angora bucks, a breed with low resistance to cold shock, were used. Sperm was collected from five different Angora bucks, pooled, diluted with a Tris-based egg yolk diluent, and frozen with the addition of NGO at two different sizes (50 and 500 nm) and doses (10 and 50 µg/mL). Nanoparticle characterization was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Post-thaw sperm analyses were evaluated based on motility and kinematic parameters, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (PMAI), and DNA fragmentation. Applying 50 nm NGO at a dose of 50 µg/mL led to statistically significant improvements in motility and PMAI (p < 0.05). The same dose of 500 nm NGO, however, only showed a statistically significant improvement in the PMAI parameter (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the groups for MMP and kinematic parameters (p > 0.05). Conversely, it was found that all sizes and doses of NGO significantly protected post-thaw sperm regarding DNA integrity (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the NGO, at a size of 50 nm and a dose of 50 µg/mL, improves the post-thaw quality of Angora buck sperm and provides a cryoprotective effect that depends on size and dose. This study provides preliminary data on the potential effects of NGO; however, comprehensive mechanistic and in vivo validation studies are required to establish the biological and clinical validity of these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 1583 KB  
Article
Pick-Up of Organic Molecules by Mixed Ar Clusters: A Function of Gas Properties and Composition
by Jernej Ekar and Oksana Plekan
Molecules 2026, 31(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31030553 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Clusters present an intriguing field of research, with their properties bridging the gap between an isolated atom/molecule and a bulk. They can act as a substrate for dopant molecules picked up on the fly and located on or inside the cluster. Our research [...] Read more.
Clusters present an intriguing field of research, with their properties bridging the gap between an isolated atom/molecule and a bulk. They can act as a substrate for dopant molecules picked up on the fly and located on or inside the cluster. Our research on Ar clusters reveals that gas pressure and composition are crucial parameters determining the pickup probability for molecules such as adenine, uracil, glycine, and ascorbic acid. For pure Ar expansion, the most intense molecular signals are observed in the stagnation pressure range between 10 and 30 bar. Adding up to 33 mol% of He or O2 at fixed total pressure causes no change in the intensity of dopant and Ar oligomer signals. The addition of N2O or CO2 results in a significant intensity drop, with signals from the molecule and Ar oligomers disappearing above 3 mol% of N2O or CO2. The opposite effects are observed with the Ar-H2 mixture at a pressure of 25 bar. Optimal results are obtained for H2 concentrations between 40 and 50 mol% versus D2 concentrations between 20 and 35 mol%. Substitution of Ar with an Ar-H2 mixture causes signal intensities of dopants and Ar oligomers to increase by more than threefold. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 35395 KB  
Review
Engineering Strategies of Colloidal Drug Delivery Systems, a Rising Star in Ocular Neovascular Diseases
by Yueping Bai, Lu Liu, Cui Li, Yiping Ma, Pai Liu and Shuo Wang
Molecules 2026, 31(7), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31071169 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Ocular neovascular diseases represent a major cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, while the complex ocular barrier system significantly limits the efficacy of conventional treatment approaches. In this context, colloidal drug delivery systems (CDDSs) have emerged as an innovative nanomedicine strategy that demonstrates [...] Read more.
Ocular neovascular diseases represent a major cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, while the complex ocular barrier system significantly limits the efficacy of conventional treatment approaches. In this context, colloidal drug delivery systems (CDDSs) have emerged as an innovative nanomedicine strategy that demonstrates remarkable advantages in enhancing ocular drug bioavailability and treatment precision through the integration of sustained release, active targeting, and stimulus-responsive functional modules. This review systematically summarizes recent research advances in CDDSs for treating ocular neovascular diseases, with a particular focus on design strategies and mechanisms for overcoming physiological barriers and achieving lesion-specific drug delivery. Furthermore, it provides in-depth analysis of key challenges in current clinical translation. With ongoing technological advancements, CDDSs are expected to offer breakthrough solutions for treating ocular neovascular diseases, ultimately leading to significant improvements in patients’ visual prognosis and quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Nanochemistry)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop