Natural Biopolymers for Biomedical Applications
A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 2027
Editor
Interests: polymers; synthesis; characterization; gels; rheology; thermal properties; drug delivery; coating; emulsions; composites; nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The search for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived products has accelerated research into the biosynthesis, design, and characterization of materials from natural resources. Plant-based polymers, lignocellulosic biomass, natural fibers, proteins, polysaccharides, and mineral or microbial compounds represent abundant and renewable sources with significant potential for high-value applications. Biosynthetic approaches, particularly microbial fermentation and enzymatic catalysis, enable the conversion of natural feedstocks into bioplastics, nanocellulose, bioceramics, and bioactive compounds while reducing environmental impact. Advances in biotechnology, including genetic and metabolic engineering, also allow the fine-tuning of structural and functional properties to meet specific performance demands. In parallel, rational design principles supported by computational modeling and structure–property analyses are being used to create bio-derived materials with tailored mechanical, optical, catalytic, and biomedical characteristics. Equally important is the role of advanced characterization techniques—ranging from spectroscopy and microscopy to thermal and surface analysis—in assessing morphology, crystallinity, porosity, and stability, ensuring reproducibility and scalability. These insights bridge the gap between biosynthesis and practical applications in fields such as energy storage, drug delivery, tissue engineering, water purification, and environmental remediation. By integrating biotechnology, chemistry, and materials science, the development of natural-resource-based materials aligns closely with the principles of a circular economy and global sustainability goals. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent progress in biosynthetic strategies, innovative design approaches, and rigorous characterization methods, showcasing how renewable resources can inspire multifunctional systems for a greener and more resilient future.
Dr. Catalina Natalia Cheaburu-Yilmaz
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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-anonymized 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
- biopolymers
- nanocellulose
- lignocellulosic biomass
- polylactic acid (PLA)
- microbial biosynthesis
- green chemistry
- bioceramics
- natural fibers
- bioactive compounds
- tissue engineering
- drug delivery
- circular economy
- sustainable materials
- biotechnologicy
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