Cutting-Edge Biotechnologies and Applications of Natural Products in Drug R&D and Disease Treatment

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2025 | Viewed by 64

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Campus Queretaro, Queretaro 76130, Mexico
Interests: ncRNAs in human diseases; gene regulation; biomarker; therapy; anticancer phytochemicals; plant microRNA; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in biotechnology have revolutionized drug research and development (R&D), unlocking the therapeutic potential of natural products. This Special Issue will explore the intersection of cutting-edge biotechnologies and natural product-based drug discovery, focusing on innovative approaches to treating various diseases. Natural products derived from plants, microorganisms, and marine organisms have historically served as the foundation for many clinically approved drugs. With breakthroughs in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and AI-driven drug discovery, researchers can now optimize and modify these bioactive compounds more efficiently. This Special Issue will highlight the novel biotechnological strategies that are accelerating the development and formulation of potent natural therapeutic agents. Additionally, we will examine the role of natural products in addressing emerging health challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic diseases. Contributions will also explore advances in drug formulation, delivery systems, and bioavailability enhancement, ensuring that natural-product-derived therapies reach their full potential in clinical applications. By bringing together experts in biotechnology, pharmacology, nanotechnology, and natural product chemistry, this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research trends, challenges, and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that shed light on innovative methodologies and applications shaping the future of drug discovery and disease treatment.

Prof. Dr. Sujay Paul
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 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. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2900 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

  • natural products
  • bioactive compounds
  • natural product drug discovery and drug design
  • natural drug formulation
  • metabolic engineering for bioactive compounds
  • natural therapeutic agents
  • nanoformulations of natural compounds
  • synthetic biology for natural product biosynthesis
  • genome editing and creation of novel bioactive compounds

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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