Journal profile · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
ISSN 0141-8130 · eISSN 1879-0003 · ELSEVIER · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1979
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules: CAS Zone 2 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 8.67; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,390; median 105 days to acceptance (180 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 35%; 9,812 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules is published by ELSEVIER and is in Zone 2 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging, Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls and Polysaccharides Composition and Applications, together about 24.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Biomaterials. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The International Journal of Biological Macromolecules now also welcomes communications: concise, high-impact reports of timely advances within the journal’s scope.Structure, Function, and InteractionsThe International Journal of Biological Macromolecules is an established international journal of research into chemical and biological aspects of all natural macromolecules. It presents the latest findings of studies on the molecular structure and properties of proteins, macromolecular carbohydrates, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, lignins, biological poly-acids, and nucleic acids. These findings must be new and novel rather than a repeat of earlier or analogous published work. The scope includes biological activities and interactions, molecular associations, chemical and biological modifications, and functional properties. Papers on related model systems, structural conformational studies, theoretical developments and new analytical techniques are also welcome. All papers are required to focus primarily on at least one named biological macromolecule. This naming should appear in the title, the abstract and the text of the paper.Examples of papers which are not appropriate for the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules include Papers in which the biological macromolecule has not been characterized by modern analytical techniques (including molecular weight) rather than historical methods, e.g. colorimetric assaysPapers that focus on biological, physiological and pharmacological aspects of non-macromolecules attached to, or mixed with, biological macromoleculesPapers on the materials science of biocomposites in which there is no mention of any specific biological macromoleculePapers in which the structure or role of the biological macromolecule is not the major proportion of the studyRoutine studies of extraction of macromolecules without purification and characterization of the extracted moleculeApplications of macromolecules in which the structure of the macromolecule is completely unknownPapers in which the molecular weight of the biological molecule is less than five thousandPapers that are majorly about clinical studies and animal trials, in which a biological macromolecule is not the biologically active agent and/or the biological macromolecule is not the major focus of the studyPapers that focus on genes and genomes with the respective data analysis (including bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses) without the investigation of the molecular structure of the biological macromolecule and the direct evidence of its biological function
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Editorial board by country: 20 in mainland China (about 27%); most named Mainland China 20, India 10, Italy 6, Taiwan, China 4, United States 4 (74 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Nanocomposite Films for Food PackagingMaterials Science8.8%
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell WallsAgricultural and Biological Sciences8.4%
- Polysaccharides Composition and ApplicationsAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.9%
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical ApplicationsMaterials Science6.7%
- Advanced Cellulose Research StudiesMaterials Science6%
- Proteins in Food SystemsAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.4%
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesMaterials Science5.3%
- Food composition and propertiesNursing4.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Polymer Science | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Polymer Science | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Chemistry Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Polymer Science | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 8.67LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 8.7Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 11.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 11.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.29LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.32LetPub ·
- h-index
- 101LetPub ·
- h-index
- 273OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 32,647OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 9.14OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 16.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 9.53%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 9,315LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 53,087 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4,283 | 762 | 3,233 |
| 2025 | 9,812 | 1,431 | 62,919 |
| 2024 | 9,660 | 1,409 | 150,907 |
| 2023 | 5,665 | 720 | 155,869 |
| 2022 | 3,039 | 394 | 109,071 |
| 2021 | 2,553 | 310 | 115,594 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
105 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 78 days – 154 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 2 days (180 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 108 days
- Sample
- 180 articles with submission and acceptance dates (17,817 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 2.7 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 35%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 33 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 102 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,390 / EUR 4,110 / GBP 3,510 / JPY 544,490 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,820 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers4, by deadline
- Biomolecular Dynamics: Insights from IBS 2026Deadline
- Call For Special Issues - International Journal of Biological MacromoleculesDeadline
- Structural Biology and Molecular Interactions of Small RNA and Microbial RNA in Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapeutic ApplicationsDeadline
- Polysaccharides in dairy and dairy-alternative matricesDeadline
What to prepare2 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
Article types accepted5
- communicationsCommunications • Concise reports of original research that describe a significant, timely, and highly novel advance in the science and engineering of biological…Length not stated
- registered reportThis journal supports Registered Reports as article type, allowing you to have your research reviewed and pre-registered prior to conducting your experiments. P…Length not stated
- registered reportsRegistered Reports This journal supports Registered Reports as article type, allowing you to have your research reviewed and pre-registered prior to conducting …Length not stated
- regular papersRegular papers • Original high-quality research papers (preferably no more than 20 double-line-spaced manuscript pages, including tables and illustrations)Length not stated
- review papersReview papers • Review articles are typically contributions focusing on one topic within the scope of the journal.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Open access options available Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of one reviewer for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Rea…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- ELSEVIER
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1979
- ISSN
- 0141-8130
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-0003
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
What CAS zone is International Journal of Biological Macromolecules in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules is in Zone 2 of Biology, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Chemistry, Applied / Polymer Science; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Journal of Biological Macromolecules?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 8.67; CiteScore 11.4, h-index 273.
How long does peer review take at International Journal of Biological Macromolecules?
Based on the dates recorded on 180 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 105 days (interquartile range 78–154 days); authors report an average review time of about 2.7 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 35%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Journal of Biological Macromolecules?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Journal of Biological Macromolecules based?
Of the 74 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 20 (about 27%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (20), India (10) and Italy (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Journal of Biological Macromolecules?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is International Journal of Biological Macromolecules open access, and what is the APC?
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,390.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-24). Last updated: .