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Gels
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Gel-Related Materials: Challenges and Opportunities (2nd Edition)
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Gel-Related Materials: Challenges and Opportunities (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 755

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pilar Prieto

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Guest Editor
Department of Inorganic, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Science and Technologies, Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: organic materials; organic photonics; organic electronics; gels; biomedicine; luminescence properties; organic synthesis; computational chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Iván Torres Moya

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Guest Editor
Department of Inorganic, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Science and Technologies, Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: organic materials; organic photonics; organic electronics; gels; biomedicine; luminescence properties; organic synthesis; computational chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to present this Special Issue of Gels, which is entitled “Gel-Related Materials: Challenges and Opportunities” and dedicated to a field that is revolutionizing multiple industries. Gel-based materials have been proven to be essential in areas ranging from biomedicine to tissue engineering and food science to energy storage technology. However, with their diverse applications come challenges that must be addressed to comprehensively harness their potential.

This Special Issue will bring together a selection of articles that explore both the opportunities and challenges inherent in utilizing gel-related materials. We invite pioneering contributions that examine topics such as the optimization of the mechanical properties of hydrogels, the design of ultra-lightweight aerogels for energy applications, and innovations in biocompatible gels for medical use.

The application of gel-based materials introduces challenges such as the long-term stability of these materials, their scalability for industrial production, and the need to develop more sustainable synthesis methods. However, the opportunities these materials present are significant. From creating new biomedical devices to developing sustainable solutions for industry, gel-based materials continue to advance the boundaries of science and engineering.

We hope that this Special Issue will serve as a platform to inspire new ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and open new avenues of research in this crucial field. Both experimental and theoretical studies that present findings addressing the challenges and opportunities that define the future of gel-related materials are welcome.

Dr. Pilar Prieto
Dr. Iván Torres Moya
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 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.

Keywords

  • gels
  • organogels
  • hydrogels
  • chemical gels
  • gels made in mixtures
  • gels made in solvents
  • drug delivery
  • drug crystallization

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 6936 KB  
Article
Sustainable Cyclodextrin Modification and Alginate Incorporation: Viscoelastic Properties, Release Behavior, and Morphology in Bulk and Microbead Hydrogel Systems
by Maja Čič, Nejc Petek, Iztok Dogša, Andrijana Damjanović, Boštjan Genorio, Nataša Poklar Ulrih and Ilja Gasan Osojnik Črnivec
Gels 2025, 11(11), 875; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11110875 (registering DOI) - 1 Nov 2025
Abstract
Incorporating cyclodextrins (CDs) into ionically crosslinked polysaccharide matrices offers a promising strategy for developing well-defined, safe-by-design and biocompatible carrier systems with tunable rheological properties. In this study, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was functionalized with citric acid (CDC) and maleic anhydride (CDM) using [...] Read more.
Incorporating cyclodextrins (CDs) into ionically crosslinked polysaccharide matrices offers a promising strategy for developing well-defined, safe-by-design and biocompatible carrier systems with tunable rheological properties. In this study, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was functionalized with citric acid (CDC) and maleic anhydride (CDM) using solvent-free synthesis to improve compatibility with alginate hydrogels. The modified CDs were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, DLS, zeta potential, and MS, confirming successful esterification (4.0 and 3.4 –OH substitution for CDC and CDM, respectively) and stable aqueous dispersion. Rheological measurements showed that native CD accelerated gelation (within approximately 30 s), while CDC and CDM delayed crosslinking (by 2 to 13 min) and reduced gel strength, narrowing the linear viscoelastic range to 0.015–0.089% strain due to competition between polycarboxylated CDs and alginate chains for Ca2+ ions. Vibrational prilling produced alginate microbeads with diameters of 800–1000 µm and a simultaneous increase in size and CD concentration. Hydrogels demonstrated high CD retention (>80% after 28 h) and slightly greater release of CDC and CDM than native CD. Overall, solvent-free modification of CDs with citric and maleic acids provides a sustainable approach to tailoring the gelation kinetics, viscoelasticity, and release behavior of alginate-based hydrogels, offering a versatile, food- and health-compliant platform for controlled delivery of bioactive compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel-Related Materials: Challenges and Opportunities (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 1557 KB  
Article
Modulating CT Attenuation of Polyvinyl Alcohol Cryogels for Individualized Training Phantoms in Interventional Radiology: A Proof-of-Concept Study
by Martin Volk, Ivan Vogt, Marilena Georgiades, Johanna Menhorn, Mathias Becker, Georg Rose, Maciej Pech and Oliver S. Grosser
Gels 2025, 11(8), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080664 - 20 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Anthropomorphic CT phantoms are essential training tools for interventional radiology. Given the high technical demands and stringent safety requirements in this field, realistic CT phantoms are vital simulation tools that support effective hands-on training, procedural planning, and risk mitigation. However, commercially available phantom [...] Read more.
Anthropomorphic CT phantoms are essential training tools for interventional radiology. Given the high technical demands and stringent safety requirements in this field, realistic CT phantoms are vital simulation tools that support effective hands-on training, procedural planning, and risk mitigation. However, commercially available phantom geometries are limited in their scope. This study investigates the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate customizable training phantoms. PVA, a non-toxic material, can be processed into PVA cryogels (PVA-C) with tissue-like mechanical properties. We modified PVA-C (10 wt.% PVA) by incorporating various additives to adjust X-ray attenuation and achieve Hounsfield units (HUs) similar to different soft tissues. HU values were measured at X-ray tube voltages of 70, 120, and 150 kV. The inclusion of barium sulfate (e.g., U = 120 kV; 0.1–2 wt.%: 33.29 ± 5.45–323.72 ± 12.64 HU) and iohexol (e.g., U = 120 kV; 0.1–2 wt.%: 26.05 ± 4.74–161.99 ± 5.69 HU) significantly increased HU values. Iohexol produced more homogeneous HU distributions than barium sulfate and cellulose derivatives, with the latter having air gaps and inconsistencies. The tested formulations encompassed a wide range of soft tissue densities, with HU values varying significantly across the energy range (p < 0.001). While cellulose derivatives showed variable HU modulation, their primary role appears to be in modifying phantom texture and morphology rather than precise attenuation control. In conclusion, PVA-C demonstrates strong potential for use in interventional radiology training phantoms. Further studies may enhance phantom realism by replicating tissue textures, for example, through the incorporation of cellulose-based substances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel-Related Materials: Challenges and Opportunities (2nd Edition))
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