Microbial Biopolymers: From Synthesis to Properties and Applications, Volume II

Dear Colleagues,

Biopolymers of microbial origin, such as polysaccharides, polyamides, and polyhydroxyalkanoates, have been extensively studied, and many of them are already being exploited in many areas, including as commodity products and in high-value medical and pharmaceutical applications. They are represented by a large variety of materials characterized by valuable properties, ranging from hydrocolloids to thermoplastics, and which include bioactive macromolecules. Microbial biopolymers present many advantages over their synthetic counterparts, which are mainly related to the biodegradability and biocompatibility already demonstrated by many of them, and their more sustainable production processes. The use of microorganisms for biopolymer production also presents advantages over the use of other natural sources, plants, macroalgae, or animals, as they are more amenable to control through cultivation conditions and can bypass complications due to climate, pollution, and seasonality, thus assuring the quality and quantity of the final products. More importantly, microbial biopolymers frequently display properties not found in other natural or synthetic polymers, which creates opportunities for novel applications in high-value areas such as biomedicine, cosmetics, and nutrition.

This Special Issue on “Microbial Biopolymers: From Synthesis to Properties and Applications” will, therefore, present original research papers and comprehensive reviews that integrate expertise from different areas related to microbial biopolymers, including, but not limited to the following topics:

• Screening and cultivation of novel biopolymer producing microorganisms
• Development and optimization of sustainable production processes,
• Genetics and biosynthetic pathways,
• Metabolic engineering,
• Novel ecological biopolymer recovery strategies,
• Biopolymer characterization,
• Preparation of biopolymer-based materials,
• Biopolymer applications.

Dr. Filomena Freitas
Dr. Patrícia Concórdio-Reis
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. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

• biopolymer
• polysaccharides
• polyamides
• polyhydroxyalkanoates
• scaffolds
• hydrogels
• emulsions
• nanomaterials