Special Issue Editors

Leading Editors：

• Guangping Lv, Professor, Nanjing Normal University, Email: guangpinglyu@edu.cn
• Ying Lan, Associate Professor, Northwest A&F University, Email: ylan@nwafu.edu.cn
• Songzi Xie, Associate Professor, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Email: xiesongzi@ahtcm.edu.cn

Co-editors

• Yin Chen, Professor, Zhejiang Ocean University, Email: mojojo1984@163.com
• Xiaoling Ji, Associate Professor, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry,Email: xiaolongjiytu@163.com
• Jiangping Wu, Associate Professor, Wannan Medical University, Email: wujiangping09@126.com
• Hongyan Wang, PhD, Anhui Agricultural University, Email：hyanwan@ahau.edu.cn
• Yujing Wang, PhD, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Email: 609948586@qq.com
• Yingyue Zhang, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Email: yingyuezhawn@163.com
• Hua Zhu, PhD, Nanjing Normal University, Email: shxyzh@jssnu.edu.cn

 Description

Food and medicine homology resources are an important part of traditional dietary and medicinal systems. Polysaccharides, as major functional components of these resources, exhibit diverse structures, biological activities, and favorable film-forming, gelling, and self-assembly properties, making them promising natural macromolecules for both health and material applications. Their biological functions and material properties are closely associated with fine structural features, including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkages, branching patterns, and spatial conformations. This special issue focuses on the green preparation and fine structural characterization, structure–function relationships, functional evaluation, structural modification, and functional regulation of food and medicine homology polysaccharides, as well as their high-value applications in delivery systems, food preservation and packaging, functional foods, nutritional and health products, and cosmetics. The special issue aims to advance polysaccharide research from structural elucidation and functional discovery toward material innovation and industrial applications, providing a scientific and technological basis for the high-value utilization of food and medicine homology resources.

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

1. Preparation and fine structural characterization of food and medicine homology polysaccharides:
   Studies focusing on the green extraction, isolation, purification, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from food and medicine homology resources. Advanced analytical approaches, including mass spectrometry, chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, and integrated techniques, are encouraged to elucidate molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkages, branching patterns, spatial conformations, and characteristic structural domains.
2. Structure–function relationships and precise evaluation of food and medicine homology polysaccharides:
   Investigations into the relationships between the fine structures, physicochemical properties, and biological activities of polysaccharides. Studies evaluating their roles in metabolic regulation, gut health, immune modulation, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory effects are welcomed, with particular interest in the links among polysaccharide structures, gut microbiota, and host health.
3. Structural regulation and functional materials of food and medicine homology polysaccharides:
   Studies on the structural modification and functional regulation of polysaccharides through physical, chemical, enzymatic, and microbial approaches. Research on polysaccharide self-assembly, co-assembly, and interactions with other functional components is encouraged, particularly for the development of delivery systems, hydrogels, emulsions, and other polysaccharide-based functional materials.
4. Food preservation and green packaging applications of food and medicine homology polysaccharides:
   Research on the film-forming, gelling, barrier, and active-compound-loading properties of polysaccharides for the development of edible films, coatings, active packaging, and other biodegradable materials. Applications in food preservation, quality maintenance, and the high-value utilization of processing by-products from food and medicine homology resources are particularly encouraged.
5. Development of high-value products based on food and medicine homology polysaccharides:
   Development of functional foods, nutritional and health products, cosmetics, and other high-value products based on the biological and material properties of food and medicine homology polysaccharides. Studies on scalable production, quality control, processing adaptability, functional evaluation, and industrial applications are also welcomed.

Keywords: Food and medicine homology polysaccharides; Fine structure; Structure–function relationships; Structural regulation; Functional materials; High-value utilization

 Instructions for submission:

The Editorial Manager System is ready for article submission towards the Virtual special issue: SI: Food and Medicine Homology Polysaccharides: Fine Structures, Functional Properties 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 – FMH Polysaccharides

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: March 30, 2027

Publication Date: December 2027