Application and Characterization of Cellulose-Based Polymers
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 16
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cellulose separations; bast fibers; biological extraction; microbial degumming; enzymatic degumming
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cellulose, as the most abundant natural polymer on Earth, holds immense potential for advanced biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications. Its unique properties—including renewability, biocompatibility, tunable surface chemistry, and mechanical strength—make it an exceptional candidate for innovations in drug delivery, sustainable packaging, tissue engineering, biosensors, and beyond. Recent advances in cellulose extraction (e.g., from plant biomass, waste sources, or bacterial synthesis), functional modification (e.g., etherification, esterification, or graft copolymerization), and conversion technologies (e.g., nanocellulose production, composite fabrication, or 3D printing) have further expanded its versatility as a “smart” material platform.
This Special Issue, entitled “Application and Characterization of Cellulose-Based Polymers,” aims to highlight cutting-edge research on the design, processing, functionalization, and multi-scale characterization of cellulose-derived materials. We seek contributions that address the following topics:
- Extraction and Purification: Novel methods for isolating cellulose from natural sources, with emphasis on scalability and sustainability;
- Chemical/Physical Modification: Strategies to enhance functionality (e.g., responsiveness to pH/temperature, adhesion, and antimicrobial activity);
- Advanced Conversion: Transformation into value-added forms (nanocrystals, fibers, hydrogels, aerogels, or hybrid composites);
- Applications: Focused on biomedical, environmental remediation, smart packaging, energy storage, or industrial uses;
- Characterization: Advanced techniques (e.g., in situ spectroscopy, rheology, microscopy, or computational modeling) to elucidate structure–property relationships.
Given your pioneering contributions in relation to cellulose-based materials, we cordially invite you to submit a full research paper, review, or communication to this Special Issue. We envision this collection as a comprehensive reference that bridges fundamental science with real-world applications, showcasing the transformative role of cellulose in next-generation sustainable technologies.
Dr. Qi Yang
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. Polymers 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
- cellulose-based polymers
- cellulose extraction
- cellulose modification
- nanocellulose
- sustainable materials
- biomedical applications
- smart packaging
- characterization techniques
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.
