Multifunctional Biopolymers: From the Extraction Source to the Application

Dear Colleagues,

Biopolymers derived from natural sources and biowaste streams are gaining growing interest as sustainable, biodegradable, and multifunctional materials capable of addressing key scientific, technological, and environmental challenges. Their diverse molecular features provide valuable properties, including a wide variety of interfacial and/or rheological behaviors. Thus, these biopolymers are regarded as highly versatile components for numerous applications across a broad range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, packaging, soft-matter engineering, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, environmental remediation, and other emerging technologies.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in extraction, purification, structural characterization, functional modification, and performance assessment of biopolymers originating from industrial residues (e.g., food, agricultural, and algal sources). Original research articles, reviews, and short communications focused on innovative extraction and valorization strategies, sustainable processing methods, and the elucidation of structure–function relationships are welcome.

Contributions addressing interfacial phenomena, rheological behavior in complex fluids, and the design of soft-matter systems, particularly those involving the use of biopolymeric matrices for the micro- or nano-encapsulation and protection of bioactive compounds, such as emulsions, gels, films, and hybrid or composite materials, are especially encouraged. Sustainability, enhancement of techno-functional properties, and the development of novel high-value applications are of particular interest.

By integrating insights from multiple disciplines, this Special Issue aims to advance the global understanding of biopolymers as key resources for next-generation sustainable materials and technologies.

Prof. Dr. Nuria Calero
Dr. Víctor Manuel Pizones Ruiz-Henestrosa
Prof. Dr. Carlos Bengoechea
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 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-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.