Polymers and Their Interactions with Biotics in Food Science and Nutrition
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 1879
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food science and technology; biotechnology; enzymes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: phenolic acids; flavonoids; antioxidants; anti-inflammatory potential; extraction
Interests: agro-food waste upcycling; biorefinery approach; fungal enzyme production; green precipitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymers are increasingly becoming essential in the food science and nutrition sectors, with significant applications ranging from food preservation and packaging to the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Understanding how polymers interact with biological systems, such as microorganisms, human cells, and food matrices, is key to advancing innovative solutions in these fields.
This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research that delves into the interaction of polymers—both synthetic and natural—with biotic systems, focusing on their applications in food science, nutrition, and beyond. We welcome submissions that explore these interactions in the context of food safety, quality, functionality, and health benefits.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Polymers in Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals:
- Role of edible polymers in enhancing the bioavailability of bioactive compounds.
- Polymer-based carriers for functional ingredients in food systems.
- Encapsulation techniques using polymers for the protection and controlled release of nutraceuticals and probiotics.
- Polymeric Encapsulation Systems:
- Encapsulation of flavors, vitamins, and bioactive ingredients in food products.
- Application of biopolymer-based nanocarriers for enhanced nutrient delivery.
- Stability and release mechanisms of encapsulated compounds in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Polymers in Food Packaging and Preservation:
- Development of biodegradable and bio-based polymers for sustainable food packaging.
- Antimicrobial and active packaging polymers and their impact on food safety and shelf life.
- Barrier properties and interactions of polymeric films with food components.
- Polymers and Food Waste Valorization:
- Use of food and agricultural by-products for the development of biopolymers.
- The role of polymers in food waste utilization and other sustainable applications.
- Polymers in Nutrient Delivery and Digestion:
- Impact of polymeric encapsulants on the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
- Interactions of food-grade polymers with gut microbiota and their influence on human health.
- Biocompatibility and Safety of Polymers in Food Applications:
- Toxicity and safety assessments of polymer-based materials in food products.
- Biocompatibility of polymeric materials in functional foods and nutraceuticals.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the polymer-biotic interactions in food science, nutrition, and health, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration among food scientists, polymer researchers, nutritionists, and biotechnologists.
Prof. Dr. Pedro Aguilar-Zarate
Prof. Dr. Nuria Elizabeth Rocha-Guzmán
Dr. Ricardo Gómez-García
Guest Editors
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
- bioactive compound delivery
- sustainable food packaging
- polymers-microbiota interactions
- controlled release systems
- encapsulation technologies
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