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Gels
Special Issues
Gel-Based Materials for Sensing and Monitoring
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Gel-Based Materials for Sensing and Monitoring

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2790

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiao Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro–Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Interests: novel two-dimensional materials; point-of-care detection; energy conversion; electrochemistry; aerogels; smart gels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gel-based materials, characterized by their high-water content and cross-linked polymer networks, offer a combination of flexibility, responsiveness, and biocompatibility that makes them ideal candidates for a range of sensing and monitoring applications. Their soft, stretchable, and often self-healing nature enables their integration into wearable devices, implantable sensors, and environmental monitoring systems, addressing critical challenges in healthcare, robotics, and sustainability.

Despite their significant potential, gel-based materials for sensing and monitoring face several challenges that hinder their widespread adoption. One major issue is the trade-off between mechanical strength and functionality, as many gels struggle to maintain structural integrity under repeated stress while retaining their sensing capabilities. Additionally, achieving long-term stability and durability over extended periods or in varying conditions remains a critical hurdle. Furthermore, the integration of gel-based sensors with advanced technologies such as AI and IoT for real-time monitoring and data analysis presents technical challenges.

Addressing the above-mentioned challenges requires innovative material design, advanced manufacturing methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration to unlock the full potential of gel-based sensing technologies. Within this topic, we aim to share up-to-date strategies in the design, structure control, and large-scale synthesis of innovative gel materials, with tailored properties for specific applications. Topics cover gel-based sensors for physiological and environmental monitoring, including wearable health devices, implantable sensors, and smart detectors. It explores stimuli-responsive gels (e.g., to temperature, pH, and stress), self-healing and stretchable gels for durability, and addresses challenges in fabrication, electronics integration, biocompatibility, and scalability, offering a comprehensive overview of the field’s progress and future directions.

Dr. Xiao Li
Guest Editor

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

  • gel-based materials
  • wearable sensors
  • stimuli-responsive gels
  • self-healing materials
  • biocompatibility
  • real-time monitoring

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

34 pages, 7587 KiB  
Review
Multifunctional Carbon-Based Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Wound Healing and Health Management
by Tianyi Lu, Yaqian Chen, Meng Sun, Yuxian Chen, Weilong Tu, Yuxuan Zhou, Xiao Li and Tao Hu
Gels 2025, 11(5), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050345 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 985
Abstract
Compared with acute wounds, typical chronic wounds (infection, burn, and diabetic wounds) are susceptible to bacterial infection and hard to heal. As for the complexity of chronic wounds, biocompatible hydrogel dressings can be employed to regulate the microenvironment and accelerate wound healing with [...] Read more.
Compared with acute wounds, typical chronic wounds (infection, burn, and diabetic wounds) are susceptible to bacterial infection and hard to heal. As for the complexity of chronic wounds, biocompatible hydrogel dressings can be employed to regulate the microenvironment and accelerate wound healing with their controllable physical and chemical properties. Recently, various nanomaterials have been introduced into hydrogel networks to prepare functional nanocomposite hydrogels. Among them, carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) have attracted wide attention in the biomedical field due to their outstanding physicochemical properties. However, comprehensive reviews on the use of CBNs for multifunctional hydrogel wound dressings in the past 10 years are very scarce. This review focuses on the research progress on hydrogel dressings made with typical CBNs. Specifically, a series of CBNs (carbon dots, graphene quantum dots, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide) employed in the preparation of hydrogels are described as well as carbon-based nanocomposite hydrogels (CBNHs) with versatility (conductivity, antibacterial, injectable and self-healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, substance delivery, stimulus response and real-time monitoring). Moreover, applications of CBNHs in treating different chronic wounds are concretely discussed. This review may provide some new inspirations for the future development of CBNHs in wound care and tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel-Based Materials for Sensing and Monitoring)
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41 pages, 3049 KiB  
Review
Hydrogel-Based Biointerfaces: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions in Human–Machine Integration
by Aziz Ullah, Do Youn Kim, Sung In Lim and Hyo-Ryoung Lim
Gels 2025, 11(4), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11040232 - 23 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Human–machine interfacing (HMI) has emerged as a critical technology in healthcare, robotics, and wearable electronics, with hydrogels offering unique advantages as multifunctional materials that seamlessly connect biological systems with electronic devices. This review provides a detailed examination of recent advancements in hydrogel design, [...] Read more.
Human–machine interfacing (HMI) has emerged as a critical technology in healthcare, robotics, and wearable electronics, with hydrogels offering unique advantages as multifunctional materials that seamlessly connect biological systems with electronic devices. This review provides a detailed examination of recent advancements in hydrogel design, focusing on their properties and potential applications in HMI. We explore the key characteristics such as biocompatibility, mechanical flexibility, and responsiveness, which are essential for effective and long-term integration with biological tissues. Additionally, we highlight innovations in conductive hydrogels, hybrid and composite materials, and fabrication techniques such as 3D/4D printing, which allow for the customization of hydrogel properties to meet the demands of specific HMI applications. Further, we discuss the diverse classes of polymers that contribute to hydrogel conductivity, including conducting, natural, synthetic, and hybrid polymers, emphasizing their role in enhancing electrical performance and mechanical adaptability. In addition to material design, we examine the regulatory landscape governing hydrogel-based biointerfaces for HMI applications, addressing the key considerations for clinical translation and commercialization. An analysis of the patent landscape provides insights into emerging trends and innovations shaping the future of hydrogel technologies in human–machine interactions. The review also covers a range of applications, including wearable electronics, neural interfaces, soft robotics, and haptic systems, where hydrogels play a transformative role in enhancing human–machine interactions. Thereafter, the review addresses the challenges hydrogels face in HMI applications, including issues related to stability, biocompatibility, and scalability, while offering future perspectives on the continued evolution of hydrogel-based systems for HMI technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel-Based Materials for Sensing and Monitoring)
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