Boron-Containing Compounds: Chemistry, Biological Functions, and Emerging Biomedical Applications
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 21
Special Issue Editor
Interests: origin of life; natural boron compounds; boron and microbiota; boron in aging and longevity; boron in human health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Recent advances in analytical chemistry, structural biology, and computational modeling have revealed an extraordinary diversity of boron-containing compounds in living systems. Beyond classical inorganic borates, boron forms stable, functionally relevant complexes with carbohydrates, lipids, nucleophiles, steroids, and specialized metabolites across plants, algae, bacteria, fungi, and animals. These discoveries highlight boron as a unique molecular mediator with roles in membrane architecture, metabolic regulation, inflammation, redox homeostasis, and host–microbiome communication.
In parallel, synthetic boron-containing compounds—including boronic acids, boronate esters, BNCT agents, organoboron catalysts, and hybrid materials—are rapidly expanding the biomedical and technological applications of this element. Novel concepts such as microbiota-accessible boron complexes (MABCs), boron-mediated quorum sensing (AI-2B), boronated lipids, and boron-based nutraceuticals have opened new horizons in human health research.
This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge developments in the chemistry, biological function, and translational potential of boron-containing compounds. We welcome original research articles, short communications, comprehensive reviews, and perspective pieces addressing natural boron complexes, nutritional boron, boron-based therapeutics, medicinal chemistry, catalysis, materials science, microbiome interactions, and origin-of-life relevance.
Our goal is to provide a high-quality interdisciplinary platform that reflects the remarkable diversity of boron science and stimulates innovative collaborations across chemistry, biology, medicine, and materials research.
Prof. Dr. Ion Romulus Scorei
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- boron-containing compounds
- organoboron chemistry
- boron–carbohydrate complexes
- boronated lipids
- BNCT
- boron essentiality
- microbiota-accessible boron
- boron-based therapeutics
- boron prebiotic chemistry
- molecular nutrition
- membrane biology
- carboranes
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