Announcements

30 April 2025
Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller Share the 2024 Tu Youyou Award


We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

2024 Tu Youyou Award Laureates

Richard DiMarchi
Indiana University, USA
Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.
—Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
   

Rolf Müller
Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany;
Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany;
Saarland University, Germany
Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.
—Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

  • Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
  • Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
  • Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
  • Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
  • Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
  • Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
  • Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

12 June 2025
Nanomaterials Receives an Increased CiteScore of 9.2


We are pleased to share that Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) has received an increased CiteScore of 9.2 in June 2025, marking six consecutive years of growth—an impressive achievement for a journal running in Volume 15.

Nanomaterials’ CiteScore ranks as follows:

  • Q1 (39 out of 274) in the “General Chemical Engineering” category; 
  • Q1 (82 out of 460) in the “General Materials Science” category.

You can find more statistics on our website.

The current CiteScores measure the average number of citations within a journal over a four-year window (2021–2024). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies, research evaluation and enable benchmarking of journal performance.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, and editors. Together we will continue to track the progress of Nanomaterials and its growing impact in the study of nanomaterials.

11 June 2025
Meet Us at the 22nd National Congress on Catalysis (22NCC), 19–23 October 2025, Xiamen, China


MDPI will be attending the 22nd National Congress on Catalysis (22NCC), which will be held from 19 to 23 October 2025, in Xiamen, China.

The National Congress on Catalysis is the largest and most academically advanced national academic conference in the field of catalysis, held every two years. This conference is co-sponsored by the Catalysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society and Xiamen University and is chaired by Prof. Wang Ye of Xiamen University. The theme of the conference is “Catalysis Science and Technology in the New Era: Integrity and Innovation”, covering the cutting-edge research and application progress in catalysis science and technology in the fields of chemical engineering, energy, environment, materials, life, etc. The agenda mainly includes invited reports of the conference, keynote reports of the branch, invited reports of the branch, oral reports, poster presentations, special forums, etc.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth #E12, and have a 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 link: https://22ncc.scimeeting.cn/cn/web/index/27913.

8 June 2025
MDPI Open Science Insights: Scientific Publishing Workshop at Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, 12 June 2025


MDPI is excited to collaborate with Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Italy, to host an exclusive scientific publishing workshop aimed at empowering researchers with the knowledge and tools needed for successful scientific publishing. This workshop will cover key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing model, including journal selection, editorial workflow, and publication ethics. Participants will receive practical tips on improving their scientific writing and addressing reviewer comments, guided by experienced editors.

Date: 12 June 2025
Time: 17:00–18:10
Venue: Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia
Registration link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2M726Z2

Schedule:

Speaker Program and Content
  Opening Speech
Dr. Paulina Maziarz MDPI and Journal Introduction
  Publication Ethics
  Q&A Session

Speaker:

Dr. Paulina Maziarz holds a bachelor’s degree (2014) and a master’s degree in environmental engineering (2015) from the AGH University of Science and Technology (Kraków, Poland). She completed her Ph.D. (2020) in natural sciences at the same institution, focusing on the synthesis and application of clay mineral–magnetic nanoparticle composites in heavy-metal removal from aqueous solutions. She joined MDPI in March 2021 as an Assistant Editor for the journal Nanomaterials and became Section Managing Editor in the following months. In December 2022, she was appointed as a Journal Relations Specialist for Nanomaterials.

5 June 2025
Meet Us at the 7th International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (NENS 2025), 28–30 June 2025, Beijing, China


MDPI is pleased to announce our participation in the 7th International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (NENS 2025), which will be held on from 28 to 30 June 2025, in Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center, Beijing, China.

NENS 2025 is intended to stimulate discussions at the forefront of research in nanoenergy and nanosystems. Starting from 2014, NENS has been organized once every two years by the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences (BINN, CAS). The conference has attracted high-profile scholars worldwide to deliver plenary and invited talks. The average number of participants is over 700 attendees per event. In 2025, this conference will provide a platform for scientists to exchange scientific information, build relationships, and possibly establish collaborations with a focus on the following topics:

Symposia: 
Symposium 1: Nanogenerators;
Symposium 2: Self-Powered Sensors and Systems;
Symposium 3: Piezotronics and Semiconductor Devices;
Symposium 4: Energy Storage and Self-Charging Power Systems;
Symposium 5: Self-Powered Bioelectronics;
Symposium 6: Contact-Electro-Catalysis, Electrocatalysis, and Photocatalysis;
Symposium 7: Wearable Electronics and AI;
Symposium 8: Blue Energy and Marine Science.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending NENS 2025, we invite you to visit us at booth #B11. Our representatives look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit its official website: http://www.nens.cn/.

3 June 2025
Nanomaterials | Highly Cited Papers in 2023–2024 in the “Nanocomposite Materials” Section


We are delighted to share some of the highly cited papers that were published in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) in the “Nanocomposite Materials” Section.

1. “Optical Processes behind Plasmonic Applications”
by Viktoriia E. Babicheva
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1270; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071270
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1270

2. “Designing an Innovative Electrospinning Strategy to Generate PHBV Nanofiber Scaffolds with a Radially Oriented Fibrous Pattern”
by Qiuyu Wang, Jianwei Ma, Shaojuan Chen and Shaohua Wu
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071150
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1150

3. “Advances in Meta-Optics and Metasurfaces: Fundamentals and Applications”
by Kai Ou, Hengyi Wan, Guangfeng Wang, Jingyuan Zhu, Siyu Dong, Tao He, Hui Yang, Zeyong Wei, Zhanshan Wang and Xinbin Cheng
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071235
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1235

4. “An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials”
by Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Dana-Ionela Tudorache, Maria Bocioagă, Dan Eduard Mihaiescu, Tony Hadibarata and Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(5), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14050469
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/5/469

5. “Mechanochemical Synthesis of Sustainable Ternary and Quaternary Nanostructured Cu2SnS3, Cu2ZnSnS4, and Cu2ZnSnSe4 Chalcogenides for Thermoelectric Applications”
by Himanshu Nautiyal, Ketan Lohani, Binayak Mukherjee, Eleonora Isotta, Marcelo Augusto Malagutti, Narges Ataollahi, Ilaria Pallecch, Marina Putti, Scott T. Misture, Luca Rebuffi et al.
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020366
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/2/366

6. “Radiolabeled Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Dual Modality Contrast Agents in SPECT/MRI and PET/MRI”
by Maria-Argyro Karageorgou, Penelope Bouziotis, Efstathios Stiliaris and Dimosthenis Stamopoulos
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030503
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/503

7. “Recent Progress of Photothermal Therapy Based on Conjugated Nanomaterials in Combating Microbial Infections”
by Yue Zhao, Yi Wang, Xiaoyu Wang, Ruilian Qi and Huanxiang Yuan
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(15), 2269; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152269
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/15/2269

8. “Role of MWCNTs Loading in Designing Self-Sensing and Self-Heating Structural Elements”
by Liberata Guadagno, Raffaele Longo, Francesca Aliberti, Patrizia Lamberti, Vincenzo Tucci, Roberto Pantani, Giovanni Spinelli, Michelina Catauro and Luigi Vertuccio
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030495
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/495

9. “Advancements in Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition for Producing Vertical Graphene Nanowalls”
by Enric Bertran-Serra, Shahadev Rodriguez-Miguel, Zhuo Li, Yang Ma, Ghulam Farid, Stefanos Chaitoglou, Roger Amade, Rogelio Ospina and José-Luis Andújar
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(18), 2533; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182533
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/2533

10. “Tunable Electromagnetic and Microwave Absorption Properties of Magnetic FeNi3 Alloys”
by Yu Zheng, Mei Wu, Congyi Qian, Yuxin Jin, Wei Xiao and Xiaohui Liang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050930
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/930

3 June 2025
World Environment Day—“Beat Plastic Pollution”, 5 June 2025


World Environment Day is an urgent call to action as nature suffers from the devastating impacts of human activity. Annual plastic production exceeds 400 million tons, half of which is single-use plastic, with under 10% recycled. 11 million tons of plastic (equal to 2,200 Eiffel Towers) pollute waterways yearly. Microplastics contaminate our food, water, and air, with humans ingesting over 50,000 particles annually. This pollution harms health and ecosystems globally. A solution does exist, however. Governments, businesses, and individuals must adhere to the 5Rs—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink. Join #BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day to create a sustainable future.

On this significant day, we are proud to present a curated collection of articles and initiatives dedicated to groundbreaking research and innovative solutions for protecting the environment and beating plastic pollution. We invite readers to explore these resources and join us in our shared mission of a sustainable vision of the future. Together, we can pave the way for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Environmental & Earth Sciences

Biology & Life Sciences

Chemistry & Materials Science

Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities

Engineering

Enhanced Separation of Palladium from Nuclear Wastewater by the Sulfur-Rich Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework
by Junli Wang, Chen Luo, Wentao Wang, Hui Wang, Yao Liu, Jianwei Li and Taihong Yan
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(10), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15100714

Prevention of Biofouling Due to Water Absorption of Natural Fiber Composites in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review
by Cristiano Fragassa, Sara Mattiello, Martina Fronduti, Jo’ Del Gobbo, Radmila Gagic and Carlo Santulli
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(12), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8120532

Testing the Effectiveness of an Ecomedia Literacy Environmental Education Lesson
by Ludovica Lo Iacono, Ludovica Lo Iacono and Emilio Paolo Visintin
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(12), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120645

Airborne Microplastics: Challenges, Prospects, and Experimental Approaches
by Alexey R. Rednikin, Yulia A. Frank, Artem O. Rozhin, Danil S. Vorobiev and Rawil F. Fakhrullin
Atmosphere 2024, 15(11), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15111380

Emerging Technologies for Remote Sensing of Floating and Submerged Plastic Litter
by Lonneke Goddijn-Murphy, Victor Martínez-Vicente, Heidi M. Dierssen, Valentina Raimondi, Erio Gandini, Robert Foster and Ved Chirayath
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101770

The Other Side of Fire in a Changing Environment: Evidence from a Mediterranean Country
by Dimitrios Kalfas, Stavros Kalogiannidis, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis and Nikolaos Margaritis
Fire 2024, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7020036

A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Technologies, Sustainability, and Open Issues
by Alessandra Zanoletti, Eleonora Carena, Chiara Ferrara and Elza Bontempi
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010038

A Comparative Analysis of Different Hydrogen Production Methods and Their Environmental Impact
by Somtochukwu Godfrey Nnabuife, Caleb Kwasi Darko, Precious Chineze Obiako, Boyu Kuang, Xiaoxiao Sun and Karl Jenkins
Clean Technol. 2023, 5(4), 1344-1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5040067

Screening of Microplastics in Aquaculture Systems (Fish, Mussel, and Water Samples) by FTIR, Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Micro-Raman Spectroscopies
by Kleopatra Miserli, Christos Lykos, Angelos G. Kalampounias and Ioannis Konstantinou
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9705; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179705

Microplastics, Additives, and Plasticizers in Freshwater Bivalves: Preliminary Research of Biomonitoring
by Giulia Cesarini, Fabiana Corami, Beatrice Rosso and Massimiliano Scalici
Water 2023, 15(14), 2647; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142647

Advancements and Applications of Nanomaterials for Removal of Organic Compounds in Aquatic Environment

Guest Editors: Dr. Ramona Riedel and Prof. Dr. Giulio Malucelli

Submission deadline: 20 August 2025

Novel Sources, Designs and After-Use Pathways for Plastics in a Circular Economy

Guest Editor: Dr. María José Arévalo-Caballero

Submission deadline: 31 August 2025

Airborne Micro and Nanoplastics: Detection, Dynamics, and Exposure Assessment

Guest Editor: Dr. Yangyang Liu

Submission deadline: 30 September 2025

Aquatic Microplastic Pollution: Occurrence and Removal

Guest Editor: Dr. Lixin Zhu

Submission deadline: 25 October 2025

Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining

Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Chongchong Qi, Dr. Qiusong Chen and Dr. Danial Jahed Armaghani

Submission deadline: 31 October 2025

Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition

Topic Editors: Dr. Abdul Majeed, Prof. Dr. Yuantao Xie and Prof. Dr. Judit Oláh

Submission deadline: 31 October 2025

       

3 June 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #23 - MDPI Summits Spain & Italy, Ei Compendex, and Editorial Independence

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Highlights from the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona (21-22 May)

In May we hosted the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona – our second summit in the city following the inaugural one in November 2023.


Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) at the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona, 22 May 2025.

Creating a space for exchange of views

The goal of our summits is to bring together Chief Editors of MDPI journals from across disciplines and institutions. These intimate gatherings provide a platform to present the latest developments at MDPI and to initiate open conversations about our journals, the future of open access, and the evolving landscape of scientific publishing.

Most importantly, these are opportunities for in-person connection, providing a more meaningful space for the exchange of views and for building long-term relationships.

Exploring the future of scientific publishing in Spain

The summit took place on 21–22 May and featured a mix of MDPI presentations (including two guest presentations), roundtable discussions, and Q&A sessions. On the first day, we held a focused session with our Chief Editors to gather feedback and have open discussions on their journal development, the peer-review process, and local accreditation systems.


Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI, presents MDPI’s Editorial Process and Peer Review Quality Metrics at the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona, 22 May 2025.

I had the pleasure of opening the Summit with a welcome address and an overview of MDPI’s recent milestones. The agenda then included the following sessions:

  • MDPI and Recent Developments in the Spanish Market – Dr. Marta Colomer (Public Affairs Specialist, MDPI)
  • MDPI Editorial Process and Peer Review Quality Metrics – Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI)
  • Open Access in Spain – Dr. Remedios Melero (Researcher, CSIC – guest speaker)
  • AI in Publishing and MDPI's Actions – Dr. Enric Sayas (Business Analyst, MDPI), Daniele Raimondi (Data Scientist, MDPI), and Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull (Researcher, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya – guest speaker)
  • Publication Ethics – Ana Stankovic (Research Integrity and Publication Ethics, MDPI)
  • Opening and Closing remarks were provided by Rocksy Zhang (Editorial Director, MDPI)

We are extremely grateful for the strong engagement shown by our Editors, who were clearly appreciative of the event and the discussions we had. They felt seen and heard, which is a vital prerequisite for building open channels of communication and cultivating productive long-term collaborations.


MDPI colleagues during MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona (22 May 2025).

A big thank-you to the entire Barcelona team for organizing such a successful event!

Upcoming MDPI Summit events:

  • Italy Summit – Rome (26–27 May)
  • US Summit – Boston, MA (5–6 June)
  • France Summit – Paris (12–13 June)
  • US Summit – Houston, TX (26–27 June)
  • UK Summit – London (16–17 September)
  • Germany Summit – Berlin (18–19 September)
  • Romania Summit – Bucharest (23–24 October)
    ...with more in between, and more to follow.

Impactful Research

50 MDPI Journals Now Indexed in Ei Compendex

Indexing is a key indicator of a journal’s scientific impact. An indexed journal gives research greater visibility and credibility within the global academic community and is recognized for its quality and relevance. While many of our journals are included in major databases such as Web of Science and Scopus, MDPI also places strong emphasis on journal inclusion in subject-specific indexing platforms that align with each journal’s scope. This ensures that when you publish with MDPI, you publish with impact.

I’m pleased to share that as at May 2025, 51 of our journals are now indexed in Ei Compendex, a leading bibliographic database for engineering and applied sciences. This is a major milestone that reflects both the quality or our editorial processes and the relevance of the research we publish in these fields.

“When you publish with MDPI, you publish with impact”

Discoverability and reach

Inclusion in Ei Compendex means greater discoverability for our authors and broader reach of our journals in the fields of engineering and technology. It improves our ability to support global research and innovation, while building MDPI’s reputation in the applied sciences. This recognition is the result of the dedicated work of our editorial teams, reviewers, and authors, and of our overall commitment to excellence in publishing.

You can read our full announcement here.

Appreciative thanks to everyone involved in reaching this milestone.

Inside MDPI

 

One Year of MDPI’s Seoul Office

On 29 April, we marked one year since the opening of our Seoul office, MDPI’s first local hub in South Korea. South Korea is a key market for MDPI, currently ranking as our sixth-largest contributor to the company’s total publications, with over 89,000 MDPI articles authored by individuals affiliated with Korean institutions. Over the past 12 months, the Seoul team has made great strides in building our visibility, networks, and presence in the region.

A few highlights from the past year


Claude Seo (MDPI Korea Office Manager, Seoul)

Claude Seo, who has over 15 years of experience in the academic publishing industry, is the Office Manager of the Seoul office.

In its inaugural year, the Seoul office focused primarily on marketing and promotional activities to support the MDPI brand locally. During that time, the team concentrated on scholar visits to local institutions, attending academic conferences, and hosting editorial board meetings.

The team also secured 10 Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) renewals, signed three new IOAP agreements, and established one new Society affiliation.

The Seoul office also hosted its first library book fair and reached over 1,000 followers on its LinkedIn channel, which is an encouraging indication of local visibility and engagement.

“The Seoul team has made strides in building our visibility, networks, and presence in the region”

Growth plans

Later this year, we are working on opening a new Seoul office in a more central location, with room for our growing team. The new space will bring us closer to other publishing partners and provide easier access to and from the airport. The Seoul office will continue to expand its efforts in outreach and engagement as its builds its presence in South Korea.

Warm thanks to the entire Seoul team for their hard work and dedication, and to all MDPI colleagues who have contributed to this exciting chapter in our global journey.

Coming Together for Science

Highlights from the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (26–27 May)

We closed the month of May by hosting the first MDPI Italy Summit in Rome. This was an important event for us, as Italy has consistently ranked among the top ten countries globally for open access publications over the past decade.

MDPI and Italy: Facts & Figures

  • With over 144,000 publications (as at 31 May 2025), Italy is MDPI’s third largest contributor after China and the USA.
  • In 2024, MDPI was the second-largest publishing house in Italy.
  • The 7,165 Editorial Board Members (EBMs) drawn from Italian institutions represent 8.9% of all MDPI academic editors.
  • Among these, 319 serve as Editors-in-Chief (EiCs) or Section Editors-in-Chief (SEiCs).
  • Eleven Italian EBMs were recognized as 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers.
  • In 2024, MDPI received 24,873 review reports and collaborated with 88,578 reviewers from Italy.
  • 23,131 Guest Editors from Italian institutions led 4,827 Special Issues across 248 MDPI journals.
  • MDPI partners with over 900 institutions globally, of which 17 are in Italy.

The MDPI Italy Summit in Rome


Dr. Prof. Giulio Cerullo, EiC of Applied Sciences, at the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (27 May 2025).

Held on 26–27 May, the MDPI Italy Summit brought together 25 Chief Editors from across our journal portfolio, including some of our largest journals such as Applied Sciences, to discuss MDPI’s latest developments and collaborations in the Italian market, our use of data intelligence and AI to support strategic decision-making, a look into our editorial process, peer-review quality metrics, and conversations around research integrity and community engagement.

The Summit featured MDPI presentations followed by Q&A and concluded with a roundtable discussion. On the evening of the 26th, we hosted a dinner with our Editors to connect personally, learn more about their research, and hear feedback on journal operations and the broader academic landscape in Italy.


Gathering of Editors-in-Chief and MDPI staff at the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (27 May 2025).

Event Agenda – 27 May

Moderated by Maddalena Favaretto (Conference Scientific Advisor, MDPI), the program featured:

  • MDPI Overview, Achievements, Latest News and Future Developments – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
  • Country Report: Italy – Dr. Laura Perez Martin (Conference Assistant, MDPI)
  • AI in Publishing and MDPI’s Actions – Dr. Andrea Perlato (Head of Data Analytics, MDPI)
  • MDPI Editorial Process and Research Integrity – Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI)
  • Panel Discussion – Stefan, Andrea, Giulia


Panel Discussion with Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI), Dr. Andrea Perlato (Head of Data Analytics, MDPI) during the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (27 May 2025).

A big thank-you to our Conference team and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make these events run smoothly.

Closing Thoughts

Upholding Editorial Independence in Scholarly Publishing

A recent MDPI blog post written by Dr. Ioana Craciun (Scientific Communications Specialist, MDPI), “Editorial Independence and Publisher Support: Collaborating to Uphold Integrity,” highlights the important balance between editorial autonomy and publisher collaboration in academic publishing.

As the leading fully Open Access scholarly publisher, we are proud to champion editorial independence within our publishing process.

Drawing from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, the article emphasizes that while editors must have the freedom to make decisions based on scholarly merit, publishers play a critical role in providing the necessary infrastructure and tools to support the editorial process. This collaborative approach ensures the integrity of the peer review process, builds trust among authors and readers, and upholds the quality and relevance of published content.

MDPI highlights its commitment to this model by investing in research integrity specialists, AI tools for plagiarism detection, and administrative support, all aimed at empowering editors to make independent, informed decisions.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

28 May 2025
Meet Us at the 26th Edition: European Conference on Integrated Optics, 10–12 June 2025, Cardiff, UK


MDPI will be attending the 26th Edition: European Conference on Integrated Optics, which will be held from 10 to 12 June 2025 at Cardiff University in Cardiff, UK.

The conference focuses on cutting-edge research on integrated optics, optoelectronics and nano-photonics and will bring together experts from both academia and industry to discuss their latest technical results and showcase their products and services. The application scope is broad, ranging from tele/datacom communications, optical interconnects, and (bio)optical sensing applications to more disruptive areas as quantum computing and mid-IR photonics.

The topics of this conference include the following:

  • Integrated photonic technologies and platforms;
  • Novel physical insights and materials;
  • Devices and integrated circuits;
  • Applications of PICs. 

All meetings will be based in the civic centre in central Cardiff. The conference will primarily take place on the third and fourth floors of the Centre of Student Life, Park Place, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3BB. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate to visit our booth. 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: www.ecio-conference.org.

27 May 2025
Nanomaterials | Highly Cited Papers in 2023–2024 in the “Biology and Medicines” Section


We are delighted to share some of the highly cited papers published in Nanomaterials in the “Biology and Medicines” Section.

1. “Micro- and Nanoplastics Breach the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB): Biomolecular Corona’s Role Revealed”
by Verena Kopatz, Kevin Wen, Tibor Kovács, Alison S. Keimowitz, Verena Pichler, Joachim Widder, A. Dick Vethaak, Oldamur Hollóczki and Lukas Kenner
Nanomaterials 202313(8), 1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081404
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/8/1404

2. “Equipment of Vertically-Ordered Mesoporous Silica Film on Electrochemically Pretreated Three-Dimensional Graphene Electrodes for Sensitive Detection of Methidazine in Urine”
by Xiaochun Deng, Xueting Lin, Huaxu Zhou, Jiyang Liu and Hongliang Tang
Nanomaterials 202313(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020239
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/2/239

3. “Biomaterials and Encapsulation Techniques for Probiotics: Current Status and Future Prospects in Biomedical Applications”
by Qiqi Sun, Sheng Yin, Yingxu He, Yi Cao and Chunping Jiang
Nanomaterials 202313(15), 2185; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152185
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/15/2185

4. “Advanced Bioactive Glasses: The Newest Achievements and Breakthroughs in the Area”
by Maroua H. Kaou, Mónika Furkó, Katalin Balázsi and Csaba Balázsi
Nanomaterials 202313(16), 2287; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13162287
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/16/2287

5. “Ingested Polystyrene Nanospheres Translocate to Placenta and Fetal Tissues in Pregnant Rats: Potential Health Implications”
by Chelsea M. Cary, Glen M. DeLoid, Zhenning Yang, Dimitrios Bitounis, Marianne Polunas, Michael J. Goedken, Brian Buckley, Byron Cheatham, Phoebe A. Stapleton and Philip Demokritou
Nanomaterials 202313(4), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13040720
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/4/720

6. “Recent Studies and Progress in the Intratumoral Administration of Nano-Sized Drug Delivery Systems”
by Wan Su Yun, Jeongrae Kim, Dong-Kwon Lim, Dong-Hwee Kim, Seong Ik Jeon and Kwangmeyung Kim
Nanomaterials 202313(15), 2225; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152225
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/15/2225

7. “Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis and Their Antimicrobial Activity”
by Johana Zúñiga-Miranda, Julio Guerra, Alexander Mueller, Arianna Mayorga-Ramos, Saskya E. Carrera-Pacheco, Carlos Barba-Ostria, Jorge Heredia-Moya and Linda P. Guamán
Nanomaterials 202313(22), 2919; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13222919
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/22/2919

8. “Automated Approach to In Vitro Image-Guided Photothermal Therapy with Top-Down and Bottom-Up-Synthesized Graphene Quantum Dots”
by Bong Lee, Gretel A. Stokes, Alina Valimukhametova, Steven Nguyen, Roberto Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Adam Bhaloo, Jeffery Coffer and Anton V. Naumov
Nanomaterials 202313(5), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050805
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/805

9. “Single-Walled vs. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Influence of Physico-Chemical Properties on Toxicogenomics Responses in Mouse Lungs”
by Silvia Aidee Solorio-Rodriguez, Andrew Williams, Sarah Søs Poulsen, Kristina Bram Knudsen, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Per Axel Clausen, Pernille Høgh Danielsen, Håkan Wallin, Ulla Vogel and Sabina Halappanavar
Nanomaterials 202313(6), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13061059
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/6/1059

10. “Two Hawks with One Arrow: A Review on Bifunctional Scaffolds for Photothermal Therapy and Bone Regeneration”
by Yulong Zhang, Xueyu Liu, Chongrui Geng, Hongyu Shen, Qiupeng Zhang, Yuqing Miao, Jingxiang Wu, Ruizhuo Ouyang and Shuang Zhou
Nanomaterials 202313(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030551
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/551

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