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Gels
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Advances in Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Theory, Modern Advances, and Applications
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Advances in Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Theory, Modern Advances, and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 8580

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yevhenii M. Morozov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Health & Bioresources, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Interests: hydrogel engineering; plasmonics; graphene; metamaterials; biophotonics
Dr. Jakub Dostalek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Czech Academy of Sciences, FZU-Institute of Physics, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: polymer biointerfaces; polymer-metal hybrid materials; near-field and guided wave optics; plasmonics; biomolecular interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Stimulus-responsive hydrogels are at the forefront of smart materials research, valued for their ability to react to environmental changes such as temperature, pH, and light. These hydrogels have significant potential in fields ranging from biomedical engineering to (bio)analytical technologies, making them crucial for the development of innovative applications like drug delivery systems and soft robotics.

This Special Issue aims to showcase state-of-the-art advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of stimulus-responsive hydrogels. It invites contributions that offer new insights into understanding their mechanisms of action, innovative fabrication techniques, and the broadening scope of practical applications.

Aims of the Special Issue:

Highlighting Innovation: Present novel hydrogel technologies and breakthroughs in their practical applications.

Advancing Theory: Enhance understanding of the physical and chemical foundations that govern hydrogel responsiveness.

Encouraging Interdisciplinary Work: Foster collaborations that integrate chemistry, physics, materials science, and other disciplines to solve complex problems.

Documenting Applications: Explore the translation of hydrogel technologies from the lab to real-world uses.

Researchers are encouraged to submit original research, reviews, and case studies that not only expand scientific knowledge but also demonstrate real-world applications. This Special Issue aims to inspire ongoing research and innovation in the versatile field of stimulus-responsive hydrogels, providing a platform for both academic and practical advancements.

Dr. Yevhenii M. Morozov
Dr. Jakub Dostalek
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

  • stimulus-responsive hydrogels
  • smart materials
  • hybrid materials
  • thermoresponsiveness
  • physical and chemical mechanisms
  • hydrogel fabrication
  • hydrogel application

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

39 pages, 4885 KiB  
Review
Smart Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-Based Hydrogels: A Tour D’horizon of Biomedical Applications
by Soumya Narayana, B. H. Jaswanth Gowda, Umme Hani, Mohammed Gulzar Ahmed, Zahrah Ali Asiri and Karthika Paul
Gels 2025, 11(3), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030207 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1494
Abstract
Hydrogels are innovative materials characterized by a water-swollen, crosslinked polymeric network capable of retaining substantial amounts of water while maintaining structural integrity. Their unique ability to swell or contract in response to environmental stimuli makes them integral to biomedical applications, including drug delivery, [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are innovative materials characterized by a water-swollen, crosslinked polymeric network capable of retaining substantial amounts of water while maintaining structural integrity. Their unique ability to swell or contract in response to environmental stimuli makes them integral to biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Among these, “smart” hydrogels, sensitive to stimuli such as pH, temperature, and light, showcase reversible transitions between liquid and semi-solid states. Thermoresponsive hydrogels, exemplified by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), are particularly notable for their sensitivity to temperature changes, transitioning near their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of approximately 32 °C in water. Structurally, PNIPAM-based hydrogels (PNIPAM-HYDs) are chemically versatile, allowing for modifications that enhance biocompatibility and functional adaptability. These properties enable their application in diverse therapeutic areas such as cancer therapy, phototherapy, wound healing, and tissue engineering. In this review, the unique properties and behavior of smart PNIPAM are explored, with an emphasis on diverse synthesis methods and a brief note on biocompatibility. Furthermore, the structural and functional modifications of PNIPAM-HYDs are detailed, along with their biomedical applications in cancer therapy, phototherapy, wound healing, tissue engineering, skin conditions, ocular diseases, etc. Various delivery routes and patents highlighting therapeutic advancements are also examined. Finally, the future prospects of PNIPAM-HYDs remain promising, with ongoing research focused on enhancing their stability, responsiveness, and clinical applicability. Their continued development is expected to revolutionize biomedical technologies, paving the way for more efficient and targeted therapeutic solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Theory, Modern Advances, and Applications)
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Graphical abstract

36 pages, 2337 KiB  
Review
Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels
by Anita Ioana Visan and Irina Negut
Gels 2025, 11(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010072 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1642
Abstract
Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for environmental and wastewater treatment applications due to their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of such hydrogels, focusing on their environmental applications. Various [...] Read more.
Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for environmental and wastewater treatment applications due to their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of such hydrogels, focusing on their environmental applications. Various synthesis techniques, including radical polymerization, grafting, and copolymerization, enable the development of hydrogels with tailored properties such as enhanced adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability. The incorporation of nanoparticles and bio-based polymers further improves their structural integrity and pollutant removal efficiency. Key mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchange, and photodegradation are discussed, emphasizing their roles in removing heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Additionally, this review presents the potential of hydrogels for oil–water separation, pathogen control, and future sustainability through integration into circular economy frameworks. The adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness of these hydrogels make them promising candidates for large-scale environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Theory, Modern Advances, and Applications)
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Figure 1

36 pages, 4867 KiB  
Review
Fundamentals and Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels and Their Applications: A Review
by Iryna S. Protsak and Yevhenii M. Morozov
Gels 2025, 11(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010030 - 2 Jan 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4569
Abstract
This review summarizes the fundamental concepts, recent advancements, and emerging trends in the field of stimuli-responsive hydrogels. While numerous reviews exist on this topic, the field continues to evolve dynamically, and certain research directions are often overlooked. To address this, we classify stimuli-responsive [...] Read more.
This review summarizes the fundamental concepts, recent advancements, and emerging trends in the field of stimuli-responsive hydrogels. While numerous reviews exist on this topic, the field continues to evolve dynamically, and certain research directions are often overlooked. To address this, we classify stimuli-responsive hydrogels based on their response mechanisms and provide an in-depth discussion of key properties and mechanisms, including swelling kinetics, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility/biodegradability. We then explore hydrogel design, synthesis, and structural engineering, followed by an overview of applications that are relatively well established from a scientific perspective, including biomedical uses (biosensing, drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering), environmental applications (heavy metal and phosphate removal from the environment and polluted water), and soft robotics and actuation. Additionally, we highlight emerging and unconventional applications such as local micro-thermometers and cell mechanotransduction. This review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and future prospects in the field, aiming to inspire further innovations and advancements in stimuli-responsive hydrogel research and applications to bring them closer to the societal needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels: Theory, Modern Advances, and Applications)
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