Application of Hydrogels in Medicine

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 205

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Narutowicza 60, 90-136 Lodz, Poland
Interests: biomaterials; hydrogels; radiation crosslinking; wound healing; molecular biology; biochemistry; chitosan

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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedicine and Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Narutowicza 60, 90-136 Lodz, Poland
Interests: surgery; endocrine surgery; biomaterials; experimental surgery; hydrogels; wound healing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The improvement of living conditions and the protection of health, along with the resulting aging of populations, have driven the search for new biomaterials that enhance the effectiveness of treatments and serve as alternatives to existing medical products. According to the widely accepted simplest definition, biomaterials are materials designed for the production of products that come into contact with living tissues or body fluids. These materials, as well as products made from them, must possess consistent, carefully selected, and well-characterized properties tailored for specific applications.

One significant category of polymer biomaterials is hydrogels, consisting of a polymer network filled with water. Classic hydrogels are materials characterized by having the properties of a solid, i.e., they have a specific form, usually retain their shape, have measurable mechanical properties, and liquids, i.e., they allow for absorption, penetration through them and the release of low-molecular substances. They are used in medicine, for example, as systems for controlled drug release, wound dressings, and surfaces and matrices for tissue cultures (tissue engineering).

Although many types of hydrogels have been developed for use in medicine, new compositions are still being developed whose applications have not yet been explored. We look forward to receiving your papers. Submission of both theoretical and experimental research is welcome.

Dr. Karol Kłosiński
Prof. Dr. Zbigniew Pasieka
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biomaterials
  • medical application
  • gels
  • hydrogels
  • biomedical applications
  • drug delivery
  • therapy
  • tissue engineering
  • wound healing
  • biosensing
  • cancer therapy
  • medicine
  • disease treatment
  • polymers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

31 pages, 865 KiB  
Review
Sustainable Hydrogels for Medical Applications: Biotechnological Innovations Supporting One Health
by Silvia Romano, Sorur Yazdanpanah, Orsolina Petillo, Raffaele Conte, Fabrizia Sepe, Gianfranco Peluso and Anna Calarco
Gels 2025, 11(7), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11070559 (registering DOI) - 21 Jul 2025
Abstract
The One Health paradigm—recognizing the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment—promotes the development of sustainable technologies that enhance human health while minimizing ecological impact. In this context, bio-based hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for advanced medical applications. [...] Read more.
The One Health paradigm—recognizing the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment—promotes the development of sustainable technologies that enhance human health while minimizing ecological impact. In this context, bio-based hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for advanced medical applications. Produced through biotechnological methods such as genetic engineering and microbial fermentation, these hydrogels are composed of renewable and biocompatible materials, including recombinant collagen, elastin, silk fibroin, bacterial cellulose, xanthan gum, and hyaluronic acid. Their high water content, structural tunability, and biodegradability make them ideal candidates for various biomedical applications such as wound healing, tissue regeneration, and the design of extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking scaffolds. By offering controlled mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and the potential for minimally invasive administration, sustainable hydrogels represent a strategic innovation for regenerative medicine and therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the characteristics and medical applications of these hydrogels, highlighting their role in advancing sustainable healthcare solutions within the One Health framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Hydrogels in Medicine)
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