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Volume 12
Issue 4
10.3390/gels12040321
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Review

Emerging Trends in Chitin-Based Hydrogels: From Fundamental Properties to Advanced Applications

by
Merreta Noorenza Biutty
1,
Ratri Puspita Wardani
2,
Zeno Rizqi Ramadhan
3,
Boram Yun
4,
Achmad Yanuar Maulana
5,6,*,
Jongsik Kim
4,5,7,* and
Maulida Zakia
8,*
1
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55283, Indonesia
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Surabaya 60294, Indonesia
3
School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
4
Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Graduate Program), Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
5
Department of Chemistry, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
6
DAU G-LAMP Project Group, Institute of Natural Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
7
DAU G-LAMP Project Group, Innovation of Center for Atomic Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
8
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang 50229, Indonesia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Gels 2026, 12(4), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040321
Submission received: 12 March 2026 / Revised: 2 April 2026 / Accepted: 7 April 2026 / Published: 9 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels, Microgels, and Nanogels: From Fundamentals to Applications (4th Edition))
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Abstract

Chitin-based hydrogels have emerged as a versatile and sustainable material with significant potential in biomedical, environmental, and energy applications. Derived from the abundant biopolymer chitin, these hydrogels exhibit exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable physicochemical properties. This review highlights advances in chitin-based hydrogels, focusing on solvent systems, crosslinking strategies, and structural modifications to enhance mechanical strength, swelling, and stimuli responsiveness. Key applications include wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and environmental remediation, where their high-water retention, enzymatic degradability, and eco-friendly nature are particularly advantageous. Furthermore, innovations such as nanoparticle incorporation and chemical derivatization (e.g., carboxymethylation, hydroxypropylation) have expanded their utility in energy devices and smart sensors. Despite these advances, challenges remain in optimizing the energy efficiency of production methods for industrial scalability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of chitin-based hydrogels, offering insights into future directions for research and development in this promising field.
Keywords: chitin; hydrogels; stimuli-responsive materials; sustainable materials; biodegradable materials chitin; hydrogels; stimuli-responsive materials; sustainable materials; biodegradable materials
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MDPI and ACS Style

Biutty, M.N.; Wardani, R.P.; Ramadhan, Z.R.; Yun, B.; Maulana, A.Y.; Kim, J.; Zakia, M. Emerging Trends in Chitin-Based Hydrogels: From Fundamental Properties to Advanced Applications. Gels 2026, 12, 321. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040321

AMA Style

Biutty MN, Wardani RP, Ramadhan ZR, Yun B, Maulana AY, Kim J, Zakia M. Emerging Trends in Chitin-Based Hydrogels: From Fundamental Properties to Advanced Applications. Gels. 2026; 12(4):321. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040321

Chicago/Turabian Style

Biutty, Merreta Noorenza, Ratri Puspita Wardani, Zeno Rizqi Ramadhan, Boram Yun, Achmad Yanuar Maulana, Jongsik Kim, and Maulida Zakia. 2026. "Emerging Trends in Chitin-Based Hydrogels: From Fundamental Properties to Advanced Applications" Gels 12, no. 4: 321. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040321

APA Style

Biutty, M. N., Wardani, R. P., Ramadhan, Z. R., Yun, B., Maulana, A. Y., Kim, J., & Zakia, M. (2026). Emerging Trends in Chitin-Based Hydrogels: From Fundamental Properties to Advanced Applications. Gels, 12(4), 321. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040321

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