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Gels
Special Issues
Hydrogel Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications
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Hydrogel Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 April 2022) | Viewed by 6320

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yufei Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: cell microenvironment; stem cells; cell–material interactions; mechanobiology; tissue engineering
Prof. Dr. Bo Lei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: bioactive biomaterials; bioactive nanomaterials; bioactive hydrogels; tissue regeneration; cancer therapy
Prof. Dr. Murugan Ramalingam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India
Interests: biomaterials; nanocarriers; stem cells; drug delivery; organ engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Hydrogel Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications” is dedicated to recent developments from material design aspects to the synthesis, characterization, and biomedical applications of synthetic or naturally derived polymer-based hydrogel delivery systems. Within this context, a broad range of subjects, including nano- or macro-hydrogel materials, structure and dynamics, and biomedical applications will be discussed.

Hydrogel delivery systems can exert therapeutic effects of delivered agents and have been used clinically, providing a spatially and temporally controlled release of a variety of therapeutic agents, including drugs, cells, and other bioactive substances (e.g., growth factors, cytokines, miRNA, and exosomes). Due to their tunable physiochemical properties and interactions with encapsulated agents, hydrogels with designed degradability can serve as a platform for the programmable release of therapeutic agents. In this Special Issue, the design of hydrogel delivery systems, especially focusing on chemical and physical properties of the hydrogel material and the encapsulated agent–hydrogel interaction, is involved. Meanwhile, different delivery mechanisms that can be integrated to play their roles in enhancing therapeutic effects are also discussed.

Since it is impossible to cover all aspects of hydrogel delivery systems in one issue, this Special Issue will contain only a few representative examples, illustrating the complexity and diversity of hydrogel delivery systems. It is hoped that the topics will stimulate new research and discoveries in this flourishing field, providing guidelines for the rational design of advanced hydrogel delivery systems.

Dr. Yufei Ma
Prof. Dr. Bo Lei
Prof. Dr. Murugan Ramalingam
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Multifunctional hydrogels
  • Controlled release
  • Bioactive materials
  • Bioinks and bioprinting
  • Tissue engineering
  • Diagnosis and therapeutic system
  • Cancer therapy

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 6289 KiB  
Article
Novel Formulation of Fusidic Acid Incorporated into a Myrrh-Oil-Based Nanoemulgel for the Enhancement of Skin Bacterial Infection Treatment
by Mervt M. Almostafa, Heba S. Elsewedy, Tamer M. Shehata and Wafaa E. Soliman
Gels 2022, 8(4), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8040245 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2798
Abstract
Fusidic acid (FA) is renowned as an effective bacteriostatic agent obtained from the fungus Fusidium coccineum, used for treating various eye and skin disorders. The objective of the present study was to develop, characterize, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of a novel FA [...] Read more.
Fusidic acid (FA) is renowned as an effective bacteriostatic agent obtained from the fungus Fusidium coccineum, used for treating various eye and skin disorders. The objective of the present study was to develop, characterize, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of a novel FA nanoemulgel for topical skin application. Primarily, various fusidic acid nanoemulsion formulations were fabricated using different concentrations of myrrh essential oil, Tween 80 as a surfactant, and Transcutol® P as a co-surfactant. A Box–Behnken design was employed to select the optimized FA nanoemulsion formulation, based on the evaluated particle size and % of in vitro release as dependent variables. The optimized formula was incorporated within a hydrogel to obtain an FA nanoemulgel (FA-NEG) preparation. The formulated FA-NEG was evaluated for its visual appearance, pH, viscosity, and spreadability, compared to its corresponding prepared fusidic acid gel. In vitro release, kinetic study, and ex vivo drug permeation were implemented, followed by formulation stability testing. The FA-NEG exhibited a smooth and homogeneous appearance, pH value (6.61), viscosity (25,265 cP), and spreadability (33.6 mm), which were all good characteristics for appropriate topical application. A total of 59.3% of FA was released from the FA-NEG after 3 h. The ex vivo skin permeability of the FA-NEG was significantly enhanced by 3.10 ± 0.13-fold, showing SSTF of 111.2 ± 4.5 µg/cm2·h when compared to other formulations under investigation (p < 0.05). No irritation was observed upon applying the FA-NEG to animal skin. Eventually, it was revealed that the FA-NEG displayed improved antibacterial activity against a wide variety of bacteria when compared to its corresponding FA gel and marketed cream, indicating the prospective antibacterial effect of myrrh essential oil. In conclusion, the recommended formulation offers a promising antibacterial approach for skin infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications)
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16 pages, 4518 KiB  
Article
Controlled Release of Epidermal Growth Factor from Furfuryl-Gelatin Hydrogel Using in Situ Visible Light-Induced Crosslinking and Its Effects on Fibroblasts Proliferation and Migration
by Min Sun Kong, Won-Gun Koh and Hyun Jong Lee
Gels 2022, 8(4), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8040214 - 1 Apr 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2792
Abstract
Hydrogels are widely used in tissue engineering as materials that regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. They also act as promising biomaterials that can provide a variety of stimuli by influencing the surrounding microenvironment, which can be achieved by modulating their mechanical properties, [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are widely used in tissue engineering as materials that regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. They also act as promising biomaterials that can provide a variety of stimuli by influencing the surrounding microenvironment, which can be achieved by modulating their mechanical properties, thereby aiding soluble factor delivery. Here, we developed a gelatin-based injectable hydrogel that has controllable mechanical properties and demonstrates sustained drug release without the need for invasive surgery. Gelatin was modified with furfuryl groups, and riboflavin phosphate was used as a photoinitiator to crosslink the hydrogel using visible light. A hydrogel–with a storage modulus in the range of 0.2–15 kPa was formed by maintaining the concentration of furfuryl-gelatin within 10–30% w/v. Consequently, their mechanical properties can be tailored for their applications. The furfuryl-gelatin hydrogel was loaded with maleimide-modified epidermal growth factor (EGF) as a model drug to achieve a controlled-release system. The sustained release of maleimide-EGF due to gelatin hydrogel matrix degradation was observed. Cell proliferation and scratch assays were performed to verify its effect on fibroblasts. When EGF was physically entrapped in the hydrogel matrix, the released EGF considerably affected cell proliferation and scratch closure of fibroblasts at the beginning of the culture. By contrast, maleimide-EGF was released sustainably and steadily and affected cell proliferation and scratch closure after the initial stage. We demonstrated that the release of soluble factors could be controlled by modulating the mechanical properties. Thus, the injectable hydrogel formed by in situ visible light-induced crosslinking could be a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering and biomedical therapeutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications)
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