Announcements

Polymer and macromolecular sciences are multi-disciplinary and dynamic fields dedicated to the understanding of molecular science on a large, complex scale. This field encompasses the study of novel polymerization methods and macromolecular research, exploring vast, elaborate molecules that can have varied structures and functions. Polymers and macromolecules have high molecular weight, structural complexity, and the ability to perform a wide range of functions depending on their architectures, biological properties, and biomedical applications, making them fundamental to both materials science and biological systems. 

MDPI’s cluster of polymer and macromolecular science journals aims to publish recent advances in the field that have profound implications in multiscale modeling/simulations, mechanistic insights into emergent physical phenomena, and advanced characterization breakthroughs essential in advancing science and technology. These journals will collaborate to offer the scientific community the most up-to-date research and discoveries within the field of polymer and macromolecular science. 

The seven participating journals include:

• Polymers focuses on all aspects of polymers science and technology, with special emphasis on (i) polymerization methods, (ii) theory, simulation, and modeling, (iii) the understanding of new physical phenomena, (iv) advances in characterization techniques, and (v) harnessing of self-assembly and biological strategies for producing complex multifunctional structures. Polymers is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Alexander Böker (Lehrstuhl für Polymermaterialien und Polymertechnologie, University of Potsdam, Germany); 
• Gels focuses on physical and chemical gel-based materials, with special emphasis on organogels, hydrogels, ionic gels, metallogels, dried gels, colloidal gels, and gels in mixed solvents, as well as their synthesis, characterization, applications, and computational modeling. Gels is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Esmaiel Jabbari (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, USA); 
• Polysaccharides focuses on studies related to polysaccharides and their derivatives, with special emphasis on synthesis, analysis, functionalization, modifications, isolation, extraction, purification, degradation, chemical–physical properties, structure–property relationships, applications in drug delivery, medicine, tissue engineering, environmental sciences, food or agricultural science, and other industrial applications, as well as glycobiology. Polysaccharides is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Karin Stana Kleinschek (Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Biobased Systems, Graz University of Technology, Austria); 
• Textiles focuses on all perspectives of textiles, including science, engineering, design, and business. Textile materials composed of fibers linked by weaving, braiding, knitting, or sewing constitute a wide range of materials and are essential for many applications. Textiles is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Philippe Boisse (Université de Lyon, France); 
• Macromol focuses on all aspects of macromolecular research, with special emphasis on biomacromolecules, biopolymers, chitins, lignins, tannins, polyaromatic polymers, macrocycles, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans, as well as their synthesis, physics, theory, modeling, analysis, characterization, engineering, and applications. Macromol is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Ana María Díez-Pascual (Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Alcalá, Spain); 
• Microplastics focuses on the field of microplastic sources, sinks, the environmental fate, their potential effect on ecosystem services and human life, and mitigation measures to reduce the adverse effects of microplastics. Microplastics is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Nicolas Kalogerakis (School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece); 
• Adhesives focuses on adhesive science, technology, and materials, with special emphasis on adhesion mechanisms, adhesive materials, surface chemistry, physical and mechanical properties, adhesive joints, cohesion, interfacial bonds, bioadhesion, sealants, and testing. Adhesives is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Vasileios Koutsos (Institute for Materials and Processes, The University of Edinburgh, UK). 

Journals	Launch year	Impact Factor (2023)	CiteScore (2023)	First Decision (median)	Acceptance to Publication (median)	APC
	2009	4.7	8.0	14.5	2.6	CHF 2700
	2015	5	4.7	10.8	2.5	CHF 2600
	2020	4.7	7.2	24	3.5	CHF 1000
	2021	Tracked for Impact Factor	Tracked for CiteScore	28.2	4.9	CHF 1000
	2021	Tracked for Impact Factor	5.2	21.5	3.9	CHF 1000
	2022	Tracked for Impact Factor	Tracked for CiteScore	27.5	4.7	CHF 1000
	2025	-	-	18	4	CHF 1000

MDPI’s Mission and Values:

As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has served the scientific community since 1996. We aim to foster scientific exchange in all forms across all disciplines. MDPI's guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles: 

• Open Access—All of our content is published in open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attribution;
• Timeliness and Efficiency—Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and papers are published within 7-10 days upon acceptance;
• Simplicity—Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
• High-Quality Service—Supporting scholars and their work by providing a range of options, such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net to positively impact research;
• Flexibility—Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the research community's changing needs, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
• Rooted in Sustainability—Ensuring long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards. 

By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices. 

Selected Topics:

• Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications;
• Polymer and Biopolymer Nanocomposites for Emerging Medical, Industrial, and Environmental Applications;
• Polymer Physics;
• Plastic Contamination (Plastamination): An Environmental and Public Health-Related Concern. 

Selected Articles: 

Polymers
“Natural and Synthetic Polymers for Biomedical and Environmental Applications”
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081159 

Gels
“Evolution of Hybrid Hydrogels: Next-Generation Biomaterials for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering”
 Gels 2024, 10(4), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10040216 

Polysaccharides
“Structural and Thermal Characterization of Some Thermoplastic Starch Mixtures”
Polysaccharides 2024, 5(4), 504-522; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides5040032 

Textiles
“Functionalization of Technical Textiles with Chitosan”
Textiles 2024, 4(1), 70–90; https://doi.org/10.3390/textiles4010006 

Macromol
“Electrospinning: Processes, Structures, and Materials”
Macromol 2024, 4(1), 58-103; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol4010004 

Microplastics
“Bridging the Gaps between Microplastics and Human Health”
Microplastics 2024, 3(1), 46-66; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3010004 

Adhesives
“Investigating Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing for Disassembly and Reparability of Adhesive Joints by Precision Heating”
Adhesives 2025, 1(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/adhesives1010004