Polymer–Biotic Interactions in Food Science
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 55
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food science and technology; biotechnology; enzymes, food-grade polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: phenolic acids; flavonoids; antioxidants; anti-inflammatory potential; extraction; polymer–biotic interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: agro-food waste upcycling; biorefinery approach; fungal enzyme production; green precipitation; polymer–biotic interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymers—both natural and synthetic—are central to modern food systems, enabling functional ingredient delivery, edible structures, active/intelligent packaging, and more sustainable materials. However, performance in the real world is rarely decided by polymer chemistry alone. The true “make-or-break” factor is how polymers interact with biotic systems—microorganisms, enzymes, cells, and phytochemicals, etc.—and with biotic-rich, compositionally complex food matrices.
This Special Issue focuses on polymer–biotics interactions from structure–function fundamentals to translational outcomes. We especially welcome contributions that connect molecular architecture and material properties (e.g., charge distribution, hydrophobicity, interfacial behavior, network dynamics) to measurable biological and technological responses across processing, storage, digestion, post-consumption effects, etc. Emphasis is placed on mechanistic clarity and translational readiness, including digestion–microbiome dynamics, advanced and standardized in vitro digestion and gut models, safety-by-design, and scalable solutions aligned with circular economy objectives.
We invite original research articles and reviews addressing polymer–biotic interactions relevant to food processing, preservation, packaging, nutrient delivery, and health-related outcomes—particularly studies that bridge laboratory performance with realistic matrices, processing constraints, and regulatory/safety expectations.
Core themes include but are not limited to:
- Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging
Active and intelligent polymer systems, nanocomposites, films, coatings, and biodegradable materials evaluated under realistic storage and use conditions. - Functional and Bioactive Polymer Systems for Foods
Polymer matrices designed to enhance stability, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability of functional compounds through controlled interfacial and matrix effects. - Polymer-Based Encapsulation and Controlled Release
Micro- and nanoscale carriers, hydrogels, emulsions, and structured systems engineered for stability and targeted release during processing, storage, or digestion. - Polymer Interactions with Biological Systems
Polymer–microbiome, polymer–cell, and polymer–enzyme interactions relevant to antimicrobial selectivity, intestinal barrier function, and food-related health outcomes. - Sustainable and Circular Polymer Development
Biopolymers derived from food and agricultural by-products, upcycling strategies, biodegradation behavior, and end-of-life performance. - Safety and Regulatory Aspects of Food-Contact Polymers
Migration, degradation products, biocompatibility, and regulatory readiness of polymer-based food-contact materials. - Modelling and Mechanistic Design of Polymer Performance
Multiscale modelling, rheology–structure relationships, omics-based approaches, and AI-assisted tools linking polymer structure to functional and biological responses.
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 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.
Keywords
- food-grade polymers
- biopolymers
- polymer–biotic interactions
- encapsulation
- controlled release
- edible coatings
- nutraceutical delivery
- digestion models
- circular economy
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