Bioactive Peptides: Isolation, Identification and Application
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food science; food bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; bioactive peptides; protein hydrolysates; functional food; food fortification; functional properties of proteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: food science; food bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; phenolic compounds; anthocyanins; functional food; food wastes (pomaces); food fortification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: peptide and protein organic chemistry; chemical immunology; in vitro diagnostics and peptide biomarkers
Special Issue Information
Bioactive peptides are emerging as next-generation biomolecules with groundbreaking potential in the fields of health, nutrition, cosmetics, and biotechnology. Once considered byproducts of protein degradation, they are now being actively designed thanks to discoveries made possible by artificial intelligence, peptide engineering, and eco-friendly extraction methods. New sources, including plants, marine organisms, insects, and sustainable byproducts, are expanding the structural and functional diversity of peptides.
At the same time, innovative strategies such as chemical modification, cyclization, and peptidomimetics increase stability, bioavailability, and target specificity. These advances are opening new horizons for applications in metabolic regulation, cardiovascular protection, antimicrobial therapies, cancer treatment, and neuromodulation.
This Special Issue will present cutting-edge research on the isolation, identification, characterization, bioactivity, and applications of bioactive peptides, with particular emphasis on innovation and sustainability. Interdisciplinary papers combining basic science with applied research are particularly welcome, as are studies exploring the potential of bioactive peptides in healthcare, functional foods, and biotechnology.
Dr. Monika Karaś
Dr. Urszula Szymanowska
Prof. Dr. Anna Maria Papini
Guest Editors
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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
- peptides
- proteins
- hydrolysis
- bioavailability
- application
- biological activity
- food technology
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.
