Author Guidelines

Author Submission Guidelines

Plant Nanomaterial Journal (PLANAJ) is an international, peer-reviewed Open Access journal dedicated to publishing original, high-quality research on plant-based nanoparticles. As an Open Access journal, all published articles are freely available online, allowing anyone to read and cite your work immediately upon publication. The following guidelines are designed to help ensure your manuscript proceeds efficiently through peer review, production, and publication. Please read and follow them carefully to align your submission with the journal’s standards.

This section provides detailed information on the entire submission process for PLANAJ, including formatting requirements, language standards, citation style, data and clinical trial policies, and the acceptance procedure. These guidelines support the quality of submissions and increase the likelihood of successful publication.

Submission Type

PLANAJ welcomes a range of manuscript types, including Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Perspective Papers, Technical Reports, Editorials, and Letters to the Editor. Authors are advised to carefully select the appropriate article type when initiating their submission, as each type has specific formatting and content requirements.

  • Original Articles

Full-length research articles in PLANAJ should present comprehensive, hypothesis-driven studies or theoretical work in plant-based nanomaterials. Manuscripts must be between 4,000–8,000 words, including body text and figure legends, and may include up to 8 figures or tables in the main text. A maximum of 60 references is allowed. An abstract of no more than 250 words should be provided, without subheadings or citations.

The article should be organized using the provided template [link], following this structure: Title page with author details, Abstract, Introduction, Material and Methods, Results and Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, Conflict of Interests, and References. Figures and tables can either be embedded within the text. Supplementary materials—submitted as a separate file—are encouraged for detailed data or methods that are not essential to the core understanding of the study.

  • Review Articles

Review Articles should present a critical and comprehensive overview of significant or emerging topics in the field of plant-based nanomaterials, including novel methodologies or techniques that advance the discipline. These articles should highlight key challenges and bottlenecks that hinder the practical application of plant-based nanomaterials, and offer informed suggestions to address them. Reviews are evaluated for scholarly rigor, balanced perspective, clarity, originality, and synthesis of current knowledge.

Review Articles may range from 5,000 to 10,000 words (main text including figure legends), with up to 15 figures and no more than 200 references (additional references may be placed in supplementary files). The title should be concise and engaging, and the abstract must not exceed 250 words, without internal subheadings or citations. Authors who are interested in contributing a solicited Review Article are encouraged to contact the Editors by emailing pnj@unesa.ac.id with a proposed title, a tentative table of contents, a list of authors, and a brief 250-word synopsis for consideration.

  • Perspective Articles

Perspective Articles present expert opinions or commentary on recent key findings in plant-based nanomaterial research that are of broad relevance to the scientific community. These articles should analyze the significance and implications of the research from a plant-based nanomaterial perspective, highlight challenges to practical application, and offer insights into overcoming these barriers. Perspectives may also include invited commentaries from recognized experts in the field, aimed at a general scientific readership.

Perspective submissions should not exceed 6,000 words (including main text and figure legends), include a concise title, an abstract of no more than 250 words, 1–2 figures or tables, and a maximum of 30 recent references. All Perspective articles undergo peer review. Authors interested in submitting a solicited Perspective are encouraged to email pnj@unesa.ac.id with a proposed topic and title, author names, and a 250-word synopsis for pre-submission approval by the Editors.

Manuscript Preparation

This section provides an information regarding the formatting requirements for submitting a manuscript to PLANAJ, including instructions on document layout (such as margins and spacing) and text formatting (such as spelling conventions and use of abbreviations).

Manuscript Structure

To assist authors in preparing their submissions, we provide a manuscript template , which can be downloaded using the link below. Please save the Word document to your local computer and use it to format your manuscript before submission. While we understand the challenges faced by authors whose first language is not English, all manuscripts must be reviewed and edited by a native English speaker with subject-area expertise prior to submission to ensure clarity and quality.

Once your manuscript is ready, please submit it through our online submission system, which has been designed for ease of use.  The submitting author, who is generally the corresponding author, is responsible for the manuscript during the submission and peer review process. For any questions regarding the submission process, you may contact our Editorial Team via email (pnj@unesa.ac.id).

Accepted File Formats

Authors are strongly encouraged to use the official Microsoft Word template to prepare their manuscript [kasih link template]. Utilizing the template significantly reduces copy-editing time and accelerates the publication process for accepted papers.

The total file size for all submitted documents must not exceed 120 MB. If your files exceed this limit, please contact the Editorial Office at pnj@unesa.ac.id for assistance.

Accepted File Formats:

  • Microsoft Word: Manuscripts should be compiled into a single file before submission. Authors are encouraged to use the PLANAJ Microsoft Word template [kasih link template]. Please insert all graphical content (figures, schemes, etc.) directly in the main text, placed after the paragraph in which they are first referenced.
  • Supplementary Files: May be submitted in any format, though commonly used, non-proprietary formats are preferred to ensure accessibility.

Graphical Abstract

A Graphical Abstract is a visual summary of the main findings or concepts of the paper, designed to provide a quick overview of the study’s key points. It should be clear, concise, and visually engaging. The following guidelines should be followed for creating a graphical abstract:

  • Content and Purpose

The Graphical Abstract should effectively highlight the main result or core message of the study in a clear and visually engaging format. It is intended to visually summarize the research process, key findings, or theoretical framework. To maintain clarity and impact, minimize text and emphasize visual components such as diagrams, charts, or simplified illustrations.

  • Design

Design the Graphical Abstract with a clean, simple layout using visuals that are easy to interpret. If text is included, it must be legible and appropriately sized. Use visual cues—such as arrows, symbols, or icons—to clearly show the relationships between key concepts. Select a color scheme that is aesthetically pleasing yet not overwhelming, and ensure the graphic remains clear and effective in both color and grayscale formats.

  • Dimensions and Format

The recommended dimensions for a graphical abstract are 5–10 cm in height and up to 15 cm in width, though authors should adjust based on the journal’s specific requirements. The image should be submitted in a high-resolution format, preferably PNG, JPEG, or TIFF. Please ensure the file size complies with the journal’s submission limits to avoid upload issues.

  • Style

Use high-quality, professionally designed graphics to ensure a polished and impactful appearance. Maintain a consistent visual style—such as using vector illustrations or schematic diagrams—that aligns with the overall tone of the manuscript. Keep the layout well-balanced and uncluttered, avoiding overcrowded or distracting elements.

  • No Detailed Explanations

The Graphical Abstract should provide a high-level summary of the study, avoiding excessive detail. Refrain from including complex experimental setups, dense text, or highly detailed figures. The emphasis should be on clarity, simplicity, and making the key message easily understandable at a glance.

  • Caption

Provide a concise caption (1–2 sentences) beneath the graphical abstract that clearly explains the image. The caption should highlight the main message conveyed by the visual.

Ethics approval and informed consent

All research involving human participants, human-derived data or samples, or animals must include a statement of ethical approval. For studies involving humans, a consent statement is also required. Authors must clearly state the name of the approving Institutional Review Board (IRB) or relevant ethics committee within the manuscript, along with the corresponding approval or permit number.

Consent for publication

A Consent to Publish statement is required for any images, videos, recordings, or similar materials involving individuals. This statement must confirm that permission for publication has been obtained and that the individual(s) providing consent have reviewed the content to be published. Authors should be ready to submit signed consent forms to the journal’s editorial office upon request. For further details, please refer to our editorial policies.

Funding

Authors must disclose all sources of funding, including any financial support received for the research. Please clearly describe the role of the sponsor(s), if applicable, in any part of the study—from design and data collection to manuscript preparation and submission. If the sponsor(s) had no involvement, this should be explicitly stated. Ensure that all information provided is accurate and complies with your funder’s requirements.

Competing interests

Authors must disclose any competing interests that could potentially influence the interpretation or presentation of their research. A competing interest may be financial or non-financial and includes, but is not limited to: employment by the study sponsor, stock ownership or options, patents, royalties, consultancy fees, board memberships, or relevant political, religious, or academic affiliations. All authors are required to complete a Competing Interests Declaration, and any disclosed information will be listed in the Declarations section at the end of the article.

Authors’ contributions

PLANAJ adheres to the authorship guidelines established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). To qualify as an author, each individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Made a substantial contribution to the research, such as in the conception, study design, execution, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation.
  2. Participated in drafting, writing, or critically revising the manuscript.
  3. Agreed on the journal chosen for submission.
  4. Reviewed and approved all versions of the manuscript, including the final version and any major revisions during the review or proof stages.
  5. Accepted responsibility and accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the entire work, including parts outside of their direct contribution.

Merely obtaining funding, collecting data, or general supervision does not qualify as authorship.

In addition, each author must have approved the submitted version and any significant edits by journal staff and must be personally accountable for their contributions. This includes ensuring that any questions related to the accuracy or integrity of the work are appropriately investigated and addressed.

For manuscripts with multiple authors, a brief Author Contributions Statement must be included using the CRediT taxonomy. Please use the following format:

“Conceptualization, X.X. and Y.Y.; Methodology, X.X.; Software, X.X.; Validation, X.X., Y.Y. and Z.Z.; Formal Analysis, X.X.; Investigation, X.X.; Resources, X.X.; Data Curation, X.X.; Writing – Original Draft Preparation, X.X.; Writing – Review & Editing, X.X.; Visualization, X.X.; Supervision, X.X.; Project Administration, X.X.; Funding Acquisition, Y.Y.”

Refer to the CRediT taxonomy for definitions of each role. Authorship must reflect actual contributions and should be limited only to those who fulfill the above criteria

Acknowledgements

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be recognized in the Acknowledgments section. This may include those who provided technical support, writing assistance, general administrative guidance, or other non-authorial contributions.

Authors must clearly disclose any assistance received in areas such as study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation. When such support is provided, the name and role of the contributor should be stated—with their explicit permission—in the published article. Financial or material support from organizations or institutions should also be appropriately acknowledged.

Contributors who were part of collaborative efforts but whose input does not warrant authorship (e.g., “clinical investigators” or “data collectors”) may be listed collectively under relevant group headings. Their specific role should be briefly described (e.g., “provided patient care,” “served as advisors,” or “reviewed study protocols”). These individuals must provide written consent to be acknowledged, as inclusion may imply endorsement of the study’s findings.

Mandatory Cover Letter

A cover letter must accompany every manuscript submission. This letter should be brief yet informative, highlighting the significance of the study and how it contributes to or advances the existing body of knowledge. Authors should clearly explain how the manuscript aligns with the journal’s aims and scope.

If the manuscript was previously submitted to an PLANAJ, this must be disclosed. Including the prior manuscript ID in the submission system is highly encouraged, as it helps streamline the review process. Please note that any suggestions for preferred or non-preferred reviewers must be entered in the submission system, not within the cover letter.

Each cover letter must include the following declarations:

  • We confirm that this manuscript, or any part of its content, is not under review or published elsewhere.
  • All authors have read and approved the final manuscript and consent to its submission to Plant Nanomaterial Journal.