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Molecules publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Analysis of Natural Volatile Organic Compounds (NVOCs)

edited by

Igor Jerković

submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5998 | Submission Open

Keywords: volatile organic compounds; essential oils; headspace; terpene, norisoporenoid and phenylpropane derivatives; aliphatic compounds; gas chromatography

(This special issue belongs to the Section Flavours and Fragrances)

Application of Mass Spectrometry Techniques in Analytical Chemistry

edited by Xiqing Bian and

Agata Kot-Wasik

submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2699 | Submission Open

Keywords: mass spectrometry; analytical chemistry; omics analysis; pharmaceutical analysis; food safety; clinical diagnostics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Analytical Chemistry)

Harnessing Peptides and Peptidomimetics in Modern Drug Discovery

edited by

Adel Nefzi

submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1137 | Submission Open

Keywords: peptide synthesis; peptidomimetics; cyclic peptides; peptide therapeutics; peptide drug discovery; modified peptides; bioactive peptides

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Porphyrin-Based Molecules: From Synthesis to Structure–Activity Relationships and Applications

edited by Prashanth K. Poddutoori

submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 927 | Submission Open

Keywords: porphyrin; phthalocyanine; corrole; borondipyrromethane; synthesis; photophysics; electrochemistry; energy transfer; electron transfer; solar energy conversion; photodynamic therapy; molecular electronics, photonics, and catalysis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Organic Chemistry)

Droplet Chemistry: Superwetting, Evaporation and Applications

edited by

Ruoyang Chen

Xiaoguang Li

and

Panagiotis Theodorakis

submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 385 | Submission Open

Keywords: superwetting; evaporation control; droplet manipulation; evaporation dynamics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Physical Chemistry)

Bioproducts for Health, 4th Edition

edited by

María Emilia Brassesco

Ezequiel Coscueta

and

Manuela Pintado

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 15860 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioactive compounds; health applications; natural sources; purification; downstream processing; sustainability

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Biobased Materials for Tissue Engineering

edited by

Carlos David Grande Tovar

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 14300 | Submission Open

Keywords: biobased materials; biopolymers; scaffold development; tissue engineering; regenerative therapy; cell culture; stem cell therapy; drug delivery; hydrogels; wound dressing

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Chemistry)

Bio-Based and Natural Compounds: A Sustainable Approach for an Environmental Transition

edited by

Marco Zannotti

and

Rita Giovannetti

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 11219 | Submission Open

Keywords: bio-based materials; green materials; environmental application; natural compounds; characterization; sustainability

(This special issue belongs to the Section Green Chemistry)

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Essential Oils and Other Extracts: From Extraction to Application, Second Edition

edited by

Kristina Ložienė

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 10021 | Submission Open

Keywords: medicinal and aromatica plant resources; plant extracts; essential oils; secondary metabolites; chromatography; mass spectrometry; bioactivity; synergism; application

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts, 2nd Edition

edited by

Rumyana Simeonova

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 13 articles | Viewed by 9163 | Submission Open

Keywords: medicinal plants; phytochemistry; phytopharmacology; metabolomics; proteomics; cell signalization

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

30th Anniversary of Molecules—Recent Advances in Green Chemistry

edited by

M. Gilles Mailhot

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 8789 | Submission Open

Keywords: green catalysts; green extraction and processing; chemistry based on natural products; bio-based solvents with sub- and super-critical fluids; microwave and ultrasound; organic reaction in green solvents; bioconversion of biomass and sustainable biomaterials; creating fine chemicals and polymers from renewable resources; green nanotechnology; green analytical chemistry; green degradation process

(This special issue belongs to the Section Green Chemistry)

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Skin Protective Potential of Extractions from Natural Plants

edited by Gerardo Magela Vieira-Júnior and

Paulo Michel Pinheiro Ferreira

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 7886 | Submission Open

Keywords: antioxidants; anti-inflammatory; skin protection; phenolic compounds; extracts derived from plants; natural products

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Synthesis of Nanomaterials and Their Applications in Biomedicine—2nd Edition

edited by

Nefeli Lagopati

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7056 | Submission Open

Keywords: nanomaterials; biomaterials; synthesis; characterization; diagnosis; treatment; cytotoxicity; biocompatibility

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Chemistry)

Molecular Insights into Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence

edited by

Stefan Schramm

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6444 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioluminescence; chemiluminescence; chemical mechanism; luminescence; photophysics; photochemical processes; bioluminescent enzymes; luminescent sensing and imaging

(This special issue belongs to the Section Photochemistry)

Discovery of Microbial Natural Products

edited by

Yun Kwon

and

Sang-Jip Nam

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6365 | Submission Open

Keywords: microbial natural products; determination of structure; microorganism; drug candidate; bioactive secondary metabolites; microbial biotechnology

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Emerging Trends in Microextraction Techniques for Bioanalytical Applications

edited by

Constantinos K. Zacharis

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5380 | Submission Open

Keywords: sorbent-based microextraction (i.e., solid phase microextraction (SPME), matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD), pipette-tip micro solid phase extraction, fabric sorptive phase extraction (FPSE), capsule phase microextraction (CPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), etc.); liquid-phase microextraction (dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, single-drop microextraction, electromembrane extraction, etc.); automation; new materials/sorbents (MOF, COFs, nanomaterials, conductive polymers, magnetic materials, etc.); miniaturization in sample preparation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Analytical Chemistry)

Advances in Application of Natural Compounds in Skin Repair and Regenerative Medicine

edited by

Katarína Valachová

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5025 | Submission Open

Keywords: angiogenesis; anti-inflammatory agents; antioxidants; drug delivery systems; growth factors; natural compounds; skin regeneration; tissue engineering; wound healing

(This special issue belongs to the Section Applied Chemistry)

Determination of Trace Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Environmental and Food Samples, 3rd Edition

edited by

and Claude F. Boutron

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4940 | Submission Open

Keywords: environmental analytical chemistry; food analytical methods; trace heavy metals and metalloids; chemical speciation; instrumental analysis; new analytical methods and techniques; sample pre-treatment; extreme environments; reviews; emerging environmental issues; emerging food issues; food and “novel foods”; insects; climate change and biogeochemical cycles of trace heavy metal(loid)s

(This special issue belongs to the Section Analytical Chemistry)

Functional Materials for Small Molecule Electrocatalysis

edited by

Feng Hu

, Linlin Li and Qingxue Lai

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4919 | Submission Open

Keywords: electrocatalysis; nanomaterials; electrochemical conversion of H2O; CO2 and N2

(This special issue belongs to the Section Nanochemistry)

Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites: Second Edition

edited by

Jingang Yu

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4899 | Submission Open

Keywords: nanoparticles; nanosheets; composites; preparation; application

(This special issue belongs to the Section Nanochemistry)

Emerging Horizons of Hyperpolarization in Chemistry and Biomedicine

edited by

Roman Shchepin

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4864 | Submission Open

Keywords: hyperpolarization; NMR; MRI; low cost; SABRE; PHIP; d-DNP; isotopic enrichment

Transition Metal Complexes with Bioactive Ligands

edited by

Dušan Dimić

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4720 | Submission Open

Keywords: transition metal complexes; DFT; QTAIM; biological activity; bioactive ligands; crystal structures

(This special issue belongs to the Section Organometallic Chemistry)

Advanced Nanotherapeutics: Design, Synthesis and Applications—2nd Edition

edited by

Sandra Pinto

and

Vasco D. B. Bonifácio

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4581 | Submission Open

Keywords: nanomedicine; nanodelivery systems; polymer therapeutics; polymer nanoparticles; anticancer nanomaterials; antimicrobial nanoparticles; theranostics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Nanochemistry)

Functional Materials: Synthesis Strategies and Environmental Applications

edited by

Kunlei Wang

and

Zhishun Wei

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 4486 | Submission Open

Keywords: environmental remediation; pollutant removal; materials chemistry; catalytic materials; environmental chemistry

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Chemistry)

A New Perspective on the Determination and Removal of Pollutants in the Environment, 2nd Edition

edited by

Urszula Kotowska

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 4475 | Submission Open

Keywords: organic pollutants; toxic metals; wastewater; natural environment; determination methods; phytoremediation; adsorption; microplastic; toxicity; environmental risk

(This special issue belongs to the Section Green Chemistry)

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Degenerative Conditions

edited by Eleni A. Rekka and

Panagiotis Theodosis-Nobelos

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4347 | Submission Open

Keywords: antioxidants; oxidative stress; chronic-degenerative diseases; hormonal imbalance; anti-inflammatory activity; multi-targeting compounds

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Application of High-Value Compounds

edited by

Sueli Rodrigues

and

Rhonyele Maciel da Silva

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4120 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioactive compounds; green extraction techniques; optimization parameters; by-product valorization; health-promoting properties

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Cross-Coupling Strategies for the Synthesis of Functionalized Organic Compounds

edited by Xiaobo Pang and Han-jun Ai

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4087 | Submission Open

Keywords: cross-coupling; transition metal catalysis; palladium catalysis; copper catalysis; nickel catalysis; C–N bond formation; C–C bond formation; photoredox; electrochemistry; organic synthesis; functionalized molecules; catalytic mechanisms; green chemistry

(This special issue belongs to the Section Organic Chemistry)

Molecular Strategies for the Synthesis of Drug-Like Bioactives

edited by

Beatrice Severino

and

Antonia Scognamiglio

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3869 | Submission Open

Keywords: drug-like bioactives; synthetic methodologies; green chemistry; multitarget ligands; PROTACs; molecular glues; biocatalysis; scaffold design; late-stage functionalization

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Antimicrobial Peptide Assemblies

edited by

Wen Li

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3750 | Submission Open

Keywords: peptides; peptide hybrids; peptide conjugates; self-assembly; stimuli-responsiveness; antimicrobial activity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Chemical Biology)

Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry: Developments and Breaks

edited by

Svend Borup Jensen

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3030 | Submission Open

Keywords: radiopharmaceutical chemistry; organic, peptide, analytical and metal organic radiochemistry; synthesis machines/synthesizer; radioactive labeling; isotopes; human biochemistry; metabolism/metabolites

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Bioactive Components From Fungi in the Context of Biomedical Applications

edited by Magdalena Jaszek

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2965 | Submission Open

Keywords: fungal bioactive substances; polysaccharides; phenolic compounds; mushroom extracts; medicinal mushrooms; biomedical applications; functional food

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Applications of Solid-Phase Microextraction and Related Techniques, the Second Edition

edited by

Hiroyuki Kataoka

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2868 | Submission Open

Keywords: solid-phase microextraction; micriextraction techniques; extraction sorbents; pharmaceutical analysis; forensic analysis; bioanalysis; environmental analysis; food analysis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Analytical Chemistry)

Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Compounds in Food—Risks and Benefits

edited by

Andreas Eisenreich

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2769 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioactive compounds; health; safety; effects; toxicology; biology; food; feed

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Chitosan, Chitosan Derivatives, Polysaccharides and Their Applications—3rd Edition

edited by

Agnieszka Ewa Wiącek

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2697 | Submission Open

Keywords: chitin; chitosan; polysaccharide; polysaccharide-based systems

(This special issue belongs to the Section Macromolecular Chemistry)

Environmentally Friendly Technologies for Waste Processing and Recovery

edited by

Qingjun Guan

and Shuang Zhou

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2632 | Submission Open

Keywords: green waste processing; resource recovery; industrial by-products; impurity removal; waste-to-resource conversion; sustainable materials; circular economy; environmentally friendly technologies

(This special issue belongs to the Section Green Chemistry)

Recent Advances in DNA/Protein Biosensors

edited by

Mosarof Hossain

and

Mariana Ghica

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2620 | Submission Open

Keywords: biosensors; DNA; RNA; proteins; biomarkers

(This special issue belongs to the Section Analytical Chemistry)

Natural Bioactive Compounds: Therapeutic Potential in the Management of Chronic Diseases

edited by

H. P. Vasantha Rupasinghe

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2546 | Submission Open

Keywords: natural bioactives; phytochemicals; polyphenols; isoprenoids; alkaloids; bioactive lipids and peptides; prebiotics; postbiotics; chronic diseases; non-communicable diseases

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Bioactive Compounds in Foods, Beverages, and By-Products and Their Functional Potential

edited by

Maria Beatriz P. P. Oliveira

Carolina De Souza

Ederlan S. Ferreira

and

Alessio Scarafoni

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2543 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioactive compounds in foods, beverages, and/or food by-products; unconventional raw materials as a source of bioactive compounds; bioactive compounds in human health and diseases; bioactive compounds: focus on its mechanism of action; bioavailability of the bioactive compounds; studies (in silico, in vitro, vivo, and clinical) with a focus on bioactive potential; analytical techniques to identify bioactive compounds; trends and advances in bioactive compounds analysis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Chemistry)

Progress in CO₂ Storage Materials

edited by

Liang Huang

and Tianshan Xue

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2481 | Submission Open

Keywords: carbon capture and storage; mineral carbonation; CO2 sorbents; metal-organic frameworks; porous polymers; catalytic conversion

Natural Product-Inspired Drug Discovery: From Molecular Design to Safety and Translational Pharmacology

edited by

Khalid A. El Sayed

and Hassan Y. Ebrahim

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2386 | Submission Open

Keywords: metabolism; molecular design; molecular mechanistic pathways; natural products; PKs/PDs; RNA/DNA Sequencing; toxicity/safety

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Natural Products and Their Derivatives with Applications in Health and Diseases

edited by

Jih-Jung Chen

and

Sin-Min Li

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2157 | Submission Open

Keywords: natural products; medicinal plants; bioactive compounds; biological activity; mechanism of action; drug development; dietary supplements; healthy food

(This special issue belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Chiral Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

edited by

Changlong Hao

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2148 | Submission Open

Keywords: chiral nanomaterial; property; synthesis; application

(This special issue belongs to the Section Applied Chemistry)

Modern Application of Cycloaddition Reactions: Experimental and Theoretical Research

edited by

Agnieszka Kącka-Zych

and Patricia Perez

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1996 | Submission Open

Keywords: cycloaddition reactions; molecular electron density theory; density functional theory; reaction mechanism; organic synthesis; bioactive compounds; biological activity of heterocyclic compounds

(This special issue belongs to the Section Organic Chemistry)

Recent Advances in Nucleic-Acid Based Drugs Development

edited by

Daniela Perrone

Maria Luisa Navacchia

and

Elena Marchesi

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1742 | Submission Open

Keywords: nucleic acids; oligonucleotide synthesis; modified nucleic acids; therapeutic applications; gene expression regulation; precision medicine; undruggable target

(This special issue belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

Radiolabeled Nanoparticles: Molecular Design, Targeting, Therapy, and Imaging

edited by Yuichiro Kadonaga and

Kazuma Ogawa

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1737 | Submission Open

Keywords: synthesis of radiolabeled nanoparticles; biological evaluation of radiolabeled nanoparticles; theranostics; drug delivery; surface modification of nanoparticles; structural analysis; nuclear medicine; organic chemistry; inorganic chemistry

(This special issue belongs to the Section Nanochemistry)

Peptide and Protein Folding

edited by

Yuji Hidaka

Mahesh Narayan

and

Michio Iwaoka

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1638 | Submission Open

Keywords: peptide structure and dynamics; disulfide bond formation; folding pathways and intermediates; protein stability and misfolding; machine learning in structural biology

(This special issue belongs to the Section Chemical Biology)

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Small Molecules as Anticancer Agents

edited by

Mariyana Atanasova

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1610 | Submission Open

Keywords: anticancer small molecules; medicinal chemistry; drug design and synthesis; structure–activity relationship; targeted therapy; apoptosis induction; preclinical evaluation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioorganic Chemistry)

Physicochemical Interactions and Modifications of Composition, Structure and Properties During Food Processing

edited by