Smart Polymer Hydrogels for Advanced Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 793

Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2. The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510700, China
Interests: stimuli-responsive polymer; microgel and hydrogel; drug delivery; sensor and biosensor; smart materials; tough hydrogel; wastewater remediation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart polymer hydrogels have emerged as a highly versatile class of materials for biomedical applications due to their tunable physical, chemical, and biological properties. By responding to environmental stimuli such as pH, temperature, ionic strength, light, or specific biomolecules, these hydrogels enable precise control over drug release, tissue engineering scaffolds, biosensors, wound dressings, and regenerative therapies. Recent advances in polymer chemistry, supramolecular assembly, and biofabrication techniques have enabled the design of multifunctional hydrogels with improved mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. This Special Issue aims to highlight state-of-the-art research on the synthesis, characterization, and application of smart polymer hydrogels in various biomedical contexts. We invite contributions covering innovative hydrogel architectures, stimuli-responsive mechanisms, biofunctionalization strategies, and translational studies that bridge fundamental research with clinical or industrial needs. Both original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome to provide readers with insights into emerging trends, challenges, and future opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Yongfeng Gao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • smart hydrogels
  • stimuli-responsive polymers
  • drug delivery systems
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • biosensors
  • biocompatibility
  • controlled release
  • biomedical materials
  • supramolecular hydrogels

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

17 pages, 4489 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Responsive Microgels for Biomedical Application
by Hongtao Zhang, Wenkai Zhang and Yongfeng Gao
Bioengineering 2026, 13(6), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13060609 - 23 May 2026
Viewed by 383
Abstract
Responsive microgels have emerged as a versatile class of soft materials for biomedical applications owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, high water content, and ability to respond dynamically to external and biological stimuli. This review summarizes recent advances in the design, synthesis, and [...] Read more.
Responsive microgels have emerged as a versatile class of soft materials for biomedical applications owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, high water content, and ability to respond dynamically to external and biological stimuli. This review summarizes recent advances in the design, synthesis, and biomedical utilization of responsive microgels, with a focus on their functional roles across key application domains. First, the fundamental principles governing microgel responsiveness and structure–property relationships are briefly introduced. The application of responsive microgels in controlled drug delivery is then discussed, highlighting stimulus-triggered release mechanisms, payload protection, and spatiotemporal control of therapeutic delivery. Advances in tissue engineering are reviewed with emphasis on microgel-based scaffolds, injectable constructs, and cell–matrix interactions that promote tissue regeneration. The use of microgels in biomedical imaging is examined, including their roles as contrast agents, signal amplifiers, and carriers for imaging probes. Finally, recent developments in microgel-enabled diagnostics are presented, showcasing their utility in biosensing, biomarker detection, and point-of-care platforms. The literature was selected based on the authors’ expertise, focusing on representative and recent studies, and identified through general academic databases and key references. Collectively, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the multifunctional capabilities of responsive microgels and discusses current challenges and future opportunities toward their clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Polymer Hydrogels for Advanced Biomedical Applications)
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