Polymer Molecules in Biology and Medicine
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2021) | Viewed by 4379
Special Issue Editor
2. Lead Analyst, Centre for Strategic Planning of FMBA of the Russia, Moscow 119121, Russia
Interests: mitochondria; biochemistry; metabolism; molecular biology; neuroscience; cancer research; cell death; methods development; instrumentation development
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, the quantity and quality of created polymers for the targeted delivery of drugs, regeneration, and reconstruction of tissues in the body have significantly increased, which indicates their versatility and the possibility of widespread use in medicine. Such biopolymers can be of biological, synthetic, or hybrid origin. Two important properties of biopolymers are their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Because of these properties, they are in demand in general and cardiovascular surgery, for the manufacture of scaffolds, prostheses of blood vessels, artificial heart valves, in cell and tissue engineering, traumatology and dentistry, while restoring the functions of damaged organs. Nanostructured, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymers are actively used to create a new generation of therapeutic forms. Controlling the molecular structure of polymers can adjust their physico-chemical properties and change the ability to interact with the living tissue of a patient. In addition, this controlling provides synthetic polymers with certain information capabilities to be used as bio-recognition elements or molecular barcodes. The development of structured carriers of stem and differentiated cells are also important areas of the physical chemistry of polymers, which are necessary for cell replacement therapy and regenerative cell therapy. In addition, injectable biomaterials have minimal invasiveness in contrast to traditional surgical operations, which significantly reduce both the cost of the procedure itself and the patient’s recovery time.
Thus, the progress achieved in the field of creating a new generation of biopolymers gives hope for a speedy breakthrough in many fields of science and experimental and practical medicine. Perhaps, in the near future, we will hear about the use of biopolymers for the restoration of the myelin sheath of neurons, repair of the optic nerves, and cells that conduct signals of heart rhythm drivers. However, with the abundance of information on the practical use of biopolymer molecules, practically no studies report, for example, on the interaction of these molecules with biological membranes, their possible toxic and/or mutagenic effects, as well as methodologies for its estimation. We hope that this Special Issue will attract researchers and fulfill the existing gaps.
Prof. Dr. Boris Krasnikov
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. Molecules 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
- natural biomolecules
- biopolymers
- drug delivery
- regenerative medicine
- scaffolds
- tissue engineering
- injectable biomaterials
- smart materials
- thermo-responsive biopolymers
- pH-responsive biopolymers
- chemical-responsive biopolymers
- medical device design
- methodology development
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.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.