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Gels
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Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition)
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Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 4543

Editor

Dr. Monica Boffito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: hydrogels; physical and chemical hydrogels; drug delivery; tissue engineering; polymer synthesis; polymeric scaffolds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cellulose-based gels offer exceptional advantages, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustainability. Such features make them promising candidates for diverse applications, ranging from medicine (e.g., tissue engineering and drug delivery) to material science and engineering (e.g., environmental science). These gels can be designed using various chemical and physical crosslinking strategies involving cellulose and its derivatives, and possibly other blended polymers or composite systems. The resulting cellulose-based gels exhibit a wide spectrum of properties, including tunable mechanical strength, swelling behavior, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest research and innovations in cellulose-based gels and invites researchers from around the globe to submit their original research articles, reviews, and case studies. Topics of interest include novel synthesis techniques, the characterization of structural and mechanical properties, the exploration of unique functionalities, and investigations into their applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering (e.g., 3D bioprinting), food science, and beyond.

We look forward to receiving your contributions which will irrefutably foster collaboration and the exchange of knowledge in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Monica Boffito
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

  • cellulose
  • cellulose-based gels
  • cellulose derivatives 
  • physico-chemical characterization
  • biomedical applications
  • drug delivery
  • tissue engineering
  • 3D bioprinting
  • environmental science 
  • food science 
  • cellulose synthesis

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 3733 KB  
Article
In Situ Fabrication of Bacterial Cellulose–Polyhydroxyalkanoate Composite Membranes from Coconut Water: Mechanical Performance and Life Cycle Assessment
by Panuvit Rienpradub, Suphuttra Boonmak, Anuchan Panaksri, Sani Boonyagul, Patnarin Worajittiphon, Woradej Pichaiaukrit, Ghit Laungsopapun, Prihartini Widiyanti, Korawan Sringarm, Pornchai Rachtanapun, Kittisak Jantanasakulwong and Nuttapol Tanadchangsaeng
Gels 2026, 12(8), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12080675 - 29 Jul 2026
Viewed by 260
Abstract
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a highly pure biomaterial that can be produced from agro-industrial residues, making it a sustainable candidate for tissue engineering applications such as biocompatible hydrogel. However, pure BC is rigid and brittle, which limits its clinical handling. This study aimed [...] Read more.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a highly pure biomaterial that can be produced from agro-industrial residues, making it a sustainable candidate for tissue engineering applications such as biocompatible hydrogel. However, pure BC is rigid and brittle, which limits its clinical handling. This study aimed to synthesise BC membranes from the non-photosynthetic bacterium Komagataeibacter nataicola (TISTR 975) using mature coconut water as the primary fermentation medium, and to improve its mechanical properties by forming an in situ composite hydrogel with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Sucrose concentration and cultivation period were systematically varied and analysed using response surface methodology (RSM), which identified the optimal condition as a 7-day cultivation at 50 g/L sucrose, yielding a highly uniform membrane with the best structural integrity. In situ fabrication of the BC/PHA composite, achieved by dispersing PHA powder in the culture medium during synthesis, markedly enhanced the material’s flexibility and water-holding capacity. The elongation at break increased from 22.9% for pure BC to 28.2% for the composite, with only a slight reduction in ultimate tensile strength. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that the BC/PHA membrane had a global warming potential approximately 3.2 times lower than that of bovine collagen membranes, while the incorporation of PHA introduced a negligible additional environmental burden. These findings indicate that the locally producible and biodegradable BC/PHA composite hydrogel offers a favourable balance between mechanical performance, water-holding capacity, and environmental sustainability, positioning it as a promising candidate for the future development of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) gel membranes in dentistry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 2811 KB  
Article
A Novel Polyacrylamide Composite Hydrogel Reinforced with Deep Eutectic Solvent-Pretreated Paulownia Cellulose/Nanocellulose: Preparation, Characterization and Properties
by Hanyin Li, Yi Meng, Luohui Wang, Yan Gao, Youming Dong, Liangdi Zhang, Fei Xiao, Hanmin Wang and Cheng Li
Gels 2026, 12(5), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050411 - 8 May 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 533
Abstract
Biomass represents a vital and sustainable resource for developing renewable materials with the potential to replace petroleum-based chemicals. Paulownia wood has high cellulose content and a loose wood structure, giving it natural advantages as a biomass material. Therefore, in this study, Paulownia wood [...] Read more.
Biomass represents a vital and sustainable resource for developing renewable materials with the potential to replace petroleum-based chemicals. Paulownia wood has high cellulose content and a loose wood structure, giving it natural advantages as a biomass material. Therefore, in this study, Paulownia wood was selected as a lignocellulosic feedstock. An integrated pretreatment process combining a deep eutectic solvent (DES) with an organic solvent was employed to efficiently remove lignin and hemicellulose, yielding cellulose-enriched residues. Subsequently, high-intensity ultrasonication was applied to convert the residues into cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals. Using the extracted cellulose and nanocellulose, a dual-crosslinked network composite hydrogel was fabricated. The structural, mechanical, thermal, swelling, and conductive properties of the hydrogel were systematically investigated. The results show that, compared with the blank group hydrogel, the addition of nanocellulose increased the maximum tensile strength and tensile strain of the composite hydrogel by approximately 113% and 81%, respectively; meanwhile, the compressive strengths of the nanocellulose-based hydrogels (0.04575–0.09060 MPa) are higher than that of the blank group hydrogel (0.04235 MPa), confirming that the incorporation of nanocellulose significantly enhances the mechanical strength and elasticity of the hydrogel. The introduction of an AlCl3/ZnCl2 solvent system imparts appreciable electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the composite hydrogel maintains structural integrity after full swelling, indicating good dimensional stability and reusability. This work not only presents a green and efficient strategy for valorizing Paulownia biomass but also offers a novel design route for high-performance conductive hydrogel materials, highlighting their potential application in areas such as flexible electronics and energy storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition))
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21 pages, 5735 KB  
Article
Properties of Probiotic Bacterial Cellulose/κ-Carrageenan Based Hydrogel Having Antibacterial Activity and Biocompatibility
by Mainak Chaudhuri, Nabanita Saha, Arita Dubnika and Petr Sáha
Gels 2026, 12(5), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050353 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 922
Abstract
Hydrogels derived from biopolymers have attracted considerable interest in biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility and structural similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Bacterial Cellulose (BC), despite being a promising biopolymer for hydrogel preparation, lacks antimicrobial properties itself. To address this drawback, we [...] Read more.
Hydrogels derived from biopolymers have attracted considerable interest in biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility and structural similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Bacterial Cellulose (BC), despite being a promising biopolymer for hydrogel preparation, lacks antimicrobial properties itself. To address this drawback, we prepared Probiotic Bacterial Cellulose (PBC) in our laboratory, which has intrinsic antibacterial properties. No research was found on the preparation of a hydrogel using PBC and κ-carrageenan, which motivated us to develop a PBC/κ-carrageenan-based hydrogel. In the study, a novel biocomposite hydrogel system has been developed by integrating PBC with κ-carrageenan, yielding a multifunctional hydrogel with enhanced antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. The novel hydrogel has been evaluated for its structural, physicochemical, antibacterial, and biocompatible properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the formation of intermolecular interactions between PBC and κ-carrageenan. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed a porous internal morphology and the presence of probiotic bacteria within the hydrogel networks. Porosity analysis and swelling behaviour indicated an elevated water uptake capacity and structural stability. The composite hydrogel demonstrated promising antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and exhibited favourable in vitro biocompatibility. The developed PBC/κ-carrageenan hydrogel exhibits a synergistic combination of porosity, swelling capacity, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity, making it a potential candidate for healthcare applications viz. wound healing and other tissue engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition))
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16 pages, 966 KB  
Article
Cellulose-Rich Polysaccharide Extracts with Gel-Forming Potential and Improved Antioxidant Properties from Stem (Vitis vinifera L.) By-Products: Ultrasound-Assisted Aqueous Extraction and Characterization
by Francesca Comas-Serra, Valeria S. Eim, Rafael Minjares-Fuentes, Víctor M. Rodríguez-González and Antoni Femenia
Gels 2026, 12(2), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020154 - 9 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 904
Abstract
The valorization of wine by-products aligns with circular bioeconomy principles. This study investigates the ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds and cell wall polysaccharides from Syrah grape stems (Vitis vinifera L.) to produce polysaccharide extracts with the intrinsic potential to form [...] Read more.
The valorization of wine by-products aligns with circular bioeconomy principles. This study investigates the ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds and cell wall polysaccharides from Syrah grape stems (Vitis vinifera L.) to produce polysaccharide extracts with the intrinsic potential to form cellulose-rich gels with enhanced antioxidant properties. Extractions were performed at three temperatures (10, 20, and 50 °C) and three ultrasonic power densities (120, 206, and 337 W/L), and compared to conventional extraction (CE, 200 rpm). The results demonstrated that UAE significantly accelerated the extraction kinetics for total phenolics (TP), flavonols, and antioxidant capacity (ABTS, FRAP), achieving up to a 3.1-fold increase in TP yield at 20 °C. Notably, UAE at 337 W/L and 20 °C produced antioxidant levels equivalent to those obtained by CE at 50 °C, enabling high efficiency at lower, compound-preserving temperatures. Carbohydrate analysis revealed that the extracts were inherently “cellulose-rich” (glucose ~49–52 mol%), with co-extracted pectins and hemicelluloses constituting a composite polysaccharide matrix with inherent gel-forming capacity, as evidenced by its composition. While total polysaccharide yield was maximized at 10 °C, UAE’s primary effect was the facilitation of extraction and potential structural modification of polymers rather than increasing bulk yield. The process reduced extraction times by 3- to over 6-fold to achieve equivalent bioactive yields compared to CE. This work establishes UAE with water as a process aligned with green chemistry principles, an efficient strategy for the integrated, one-step recovery of antioxidant phenolics and gel-forming polysaccharides from grape stems, transforming this underutilized residue into a multifunctional extract precursor for cellulose-rich hydrogels suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition))
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Review

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24 pages, 7475 KB  
Review
Cellulose-Based Composite Hydrogels for Heavy Metal Ion Removal: Recent Advances and Engineering Perspectives
by Xiaobo Xue, Jihang Hu, Panrong Guo, Liyun Wang, Luohui Wang, Youming Dong, Fei Xiao, Cheng Li and Shen Ding
Gels 2026, 12(5), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050380 - 30 Apr 2026
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1319
Abstract
With the rapid intensification of industrial and agricultural activities, water contamination by heavy metal ions has emerged as a critical global challenge, gravely imperiling ecosystem stability and public health. Among the various remediation technologies, adsorption has been widely adopted due to its high [...] Read more.
With the rapid intensification of industrial and agricultural activities, water contamination by heavy metal ions has emerged as a critical global challenge, gravely imperiling ecosystem stability and public health. Among the various remediation technologies, adsorption has been widely adopted due to its high efficiency, low-cost water treatment, and simplicity of operation. However, conventional inorganic or synthetic adsorbents often exhibit poor degradability and pose a risk of secondary contamination, substantially limiting their sustainable application. Consequently, the development of environmentally benign and renewable adsorbent materials has become a central research focus in this field. Recently, cellulose-based composite hydrogels, derived from renewable resources and characterized by excellent eco-friendliness and highly tunable three-dimensional porous structures, have attracted considerable attention as promising green adsorption materials. These hydrogels demonstrate outstanding performance in the efficient sequestration of heavy metal contaminants from aqueous environments. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in cellulose-based composite hydrogels for heavy metal removal, to elucidate the structure–performance relationships linking material fabrication strategies, structural modulation, and adsorption efficiency. First, we outline the principal construction approaches, including physical crosslinking, chemical modification, and supramolecular self-assembly, and comprehensively analyze how different synthesis routes regulate pore architecture, mechanical properties, and the distribution of surface functional groups. Second, the underlying adsorption mechanisms, primarily coordination complexation, electrostatic interactions, and ion exchange, are discussed in detail. Finally, recent studies on the adsorption of cationic heavy metals (e.g., Pb(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II)) and anionic oxyanions (e.g., As(III) and Cr(VI)) are critically reviewed, with particular emphasis on the relationships between selective adsorption performance, material design principles, and specific recognition mechanisms. Overall, this review provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the design and development of next-generation water treatment materials with high adsorption capacity, excellent selectivity, non-toxicity, and strong environmental compatibility, followed by future research recommendations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose-Based Gels: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications (2nd Edition))
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