Special Issue Editors

Leading Editors：

• Jialun Duan, Associate Professor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, duan@njucm.edu.cn
• Chong Qiu, Associate Professor, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, cqiu@icmm.ac.cn

Co-editors：

• Huan Tang, Professor, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
• Juan Liu, Professor, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
• Jing Chen, Professor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
• Ping Xiao, Associate Professor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
• Xin Liu, Associate Professor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
• Zhuang Hu, Associate Researcher, Ningbo Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
• Shengli Ming, Ph.D., Henan Agricultural University

Description

In food and medicine homology resources, naturally occurring constituents such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and proteins do not invariably remain as separate molecular entities. During conventional processing steps, including decoction, fermentation, roasting, and storage, these components can self‑associate or co‑assemble through non‑covalent forces into dynamic supramolecular complexes. Such assemblies can modify the physicochemical state of active compounds and their interactions with biological surfaces. They may influence not only solubility and stability but also release profiles, digestive conversion, intestinal uptake, tissue distribution, and ultimate bioactivity. This special issue focus on the formation mechanisms, structural features, dynamic behavior, and biological roles of supramolecular complexes derived from food and medicine homology materials. The aim is to uncover the molecular underpinnings of compatibility synergy, processing‑induced detoxification, and functional transformation, thereby offering novel theoretical insights and technological strategies for the rational evaluation, safe application, and advanced utilization of these resources.

The topics of interest for this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Formation and dynamic evolution of supramolecular complexes during processing: studies on the conditions, assembly kinetics, and structural changes of natural supramolecular complexes during decoction, fermentation, roasting, and storage, and their effects on solubility, stability, release, digestive conversion, and bioavailability of active ingredients.
2. Assembly mechanisms and structural principles: elucidation of non‑covalent interactions among polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, proteins, and other constituents, establishing the rules governing complex formation and connecting assembly structures with material properties and biological activities.
3. Revisiting compatibility mechanisms from a supramolecular perspective: re‑evaluation of compatibility rules in traditional formulae and food‑drug combinations based on supramolecular organization and multi‑component synergy, exploring how co‑assembly alters solubility, stability, transformation, absorption, and in vivo
4. Effects of processing and fermentation on supramolecular structure and function: focus on dynamic restructuring of component composition and supramolecular architecture during roasting, fermentation, and other processes, clarifying the links between structural remodeling and activity enhancement, toxicity reduction, component conversion, and functional acquisition.
5. Construction and application of supramolecular complexes as smart delivery carriers: development of natural delivery systems with stabilizing, protective, sustained‑release, or environmentally responsive properties by exploiting the self‑assembly and co‑assembly capacity of native components, exploring their potential in functional foods, nutrient delivery, precision nutrition, and related health products.
6. AI‑empowered supramolecular research and high‑value resource utilization: integration of machine learning, molecular simulation, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics to build models for supramolecular structure identification, assembly behavior prediction, component interaction analysis, and activity screening.

Keywords: Food and medicine homology; Supramolecular complexes; Self‑assembly; Co‑assembly; Bioavailability; Artificial intelligence; Precision nutrition

Instructions for submission:

The Editorial Manager System is ready for article submission towards the Virtual special issue: SI: Supramolecular Complexes from Food and Medicine Homology Resources: Modern Scientific Reinterpretation of Traditional Theories and High‑Value Applications

The submission website for this journal is located at: https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/fmhr

To ensure that all manuscripts are correctly identified for inclusion into the special issue, it is important that authors select – Supramolecules

when they reach the “Article Type” step in the submission process.

Benefits of publishing with Food & Medicine Homology Resources

• Open access (unlimited and free access for readers, and high visibility on SciOpen). https://www.sciopen.com/journal/3136-103X
• Free of any charge.
• Precise push, good reference effect.

Submission Deadline: December 30, 2026

Publication Data: May 2027