Editorial Policies

Publication ethics standards, peer review procedures, and editorial governance principles ensuring research integrity in nanotechnology scholarship.

Commitment to Research Integrity

The Journal of Advances in Nanotechnology maintains rigorous editorial policies aligned with international standards for publication ethics and responsible research conduct. Our comprehensive commitment to integrity ensures that published nanotechnology research meets the highest standards for reproducibility, transparency, methodological rigor, and ethical conduct throughout the research and publication process.

We fully adhere to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines, ICMJE recommendations for biomedical research, and industry best practices for scientific publishing. Our editorial team is trained in ethics recognition and follows established procedures for investigating and resolving concerns.

Peer Review Standards and Process

All research manuscripts undergo rigorous single-blind peer review by at least two independent experts with demonstrated expertise in relevant nanotechnology domains and related fields. Reviewers evaluate scientific validity, experimental design, methodological rigor, data analysis, novelty of contributions, and significance to the nanoscience research community. Editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit without consideration of author nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal characteristics.

Single-blind peer review system: Reviewer identities remain fully confidential throughout the review and publication process while author information is available to reviewers. This balanced approach maintains reviewer candor enabling honest critical assessment while preserving author accountability and transparency regarding potential conflicts.

Publication Ethics Framework

Authorship Criteria (ICMJE)

Substantial contributions to conception, design, or analysis
Data acquisition, processing, or interpretation involvement
Drafting manuscript or providing critical intellectual revision
Final approval of the published version
Agreement to be accountable for all work aspects
All four criteria must be met for authorship

Research Misconduct Handling

Plagiarism detection via iThenticate software screening
Data fabrication and falsification investigation
Image manipulation and figure integrity assessment
COPE-guided formal misconduct investigation procedures
Published corrections and retractions when warranted
Notification to institutions and funding agencies if confirmed

Conflicts of Interest Management

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any relationships, competing interests, or financial connections that could potentially influence manuscript evaluation, interpretation of findings, or publication decisions. Disclosed conflicts do not necessarily preclude publication but must be managed transparently and disclosed to readers. When significant conflicts exist, alternative reviewers or handling editors without conflicts are assigned to ensure unbiased evaluation.

Research Ethics Requirements

Studies involving human subjects, patient samples, human-derived materials, or animal experimentation must include appropriate ethics approvals from institutional review boards, ethics committees, or animal care committees. Authors must explicitly confirm compliance with institutional requirements, national regulations, and international ethical standards including Declaration of Helsinki principles for human research. Ethics statements should include approval reference numbers and names of granting institutional committees.

Human Subjects Research

IRB or ethics committee approval required with reference number. Informed consent documentation necessary for identifiable subjects. Privacy protections must be implemented for any identifiable personal information.

Animal Research

IACUC approval or national equivalent required. Compliance with 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) expected. Humane treatment documentation and welfare monitoring required.

Corrections and Retractions Policy

Errors discovered after publication are addressed through formal correction notices (errata or corrigenda) or retractions depending on severity and impact on conclusions. Minor errors not affecting scientific conclusions are corrected through errata notices linked to the original article. Significant errors substantially affecting conclusions, reliability, or integrity may require retraction following established COPE retraction guidelines with explanation of circumstances.