Gels: 10th Anniversary

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels are the foundation of all natural materials. Due to their ability to take up water and gain permeability to oxygen, nutrients and biologics, hydrogels serve as a template for the synthesis of natural and synthetic materials. Due to their resemblance to the extracellular matrix of living tissues, hydrogels are used extensively in medicine as viscous gels; nano- and micro-gels; films; thin sheets and coatings; and matrices for targeted drug release, temporal delivery of growth factors and cell encapsulation. Due to their biocompatibility and wide-ranging properties, water-soluble oligomers, macromers and polymers have generated great interest in printing complex multicellular tissue patterns and structures for biosensing and tissue regeneration. Their biocompatibility and ability to absorb water makes hydrogels a commonly used option  in cosmetic, hygiene and personal care products, as well as in food and agriculture. Due to their ability to control permeability in porous structures, hydrogels are utilized in oil and gas exploration and in other chemical industries. Moreover, their unique pliability and dielectric properties contribute to their extensive use as electrolytes in energy storage systems. We are excited to invite you to submit manuscripts related to the synthesis, properties and applications of gels for this Special Issue: “Gels: 10th Anniversary”. Related topics include hydrogels in medicine, biotechnology, pharmacy, drug, protein and gene delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, bio-fabrication and 3D printing, cosmetic, hygiene and personal care products, food and agriculture, oil, gas exploration and chemical processing, energy storage systems, electro-magneto-mechanical devices and protection of the environment.

Prof. Dr. Esmaiel Jabbari
Prof. Dr. Gulden Camci-Unal
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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 2100 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.