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Gels
Special Issues
Biopolymer-Based Gels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering (2nd Edition)
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Biopolymer-Based Gels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1574

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yordanka Uzunova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Interests: biopolymers; microgels; chitosan; casein; targeted drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bissera Pilicheva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Interests: biopolymers; chitosan; casein; microgels; targeted drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the development of new materials for biomedical applications has received much attention. The discovery and development of advanced gel-forming polymers is essential to address the challenges of drug delivery and tissue engineering. Natural polymers, polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids show remarkable structural and functional characteristics such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. Furthermore, they demonstrate a reduced capacity to induce tissue inflammatory responses; therefore, they are considered suitable for various biomedical applications, mostly in the form of gels.

Such gels have been investigated for their potential to be used in drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Using a rational molecular design, gels can be optimized to respond to environmental stimuli such as pH, temperature, cells redox potential, etc. Due to their biodegradability, these gels can release the pharmacological load in a controlled manner in target cells or tissues, therefore promoting improved therapeutic effects. Using engineering approaches, gels can be modified to obtain tailor-made materials with a significantly improved mechanical strength for tissue regeneration.

We invite you to publish your research articles and reviews in this Special Issue of Gels entitled “Biopolymer-Based Gels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering”. We believe that the publications in this Special Issue will allow important contributions to be made in terms of the advancement of scientific knowledge in the field of natural polymer-based hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Dr. Yordanka Uzunova
Dr. Bissera Pilicheva
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

  • polysaccharides
  • proteins
  • biopolymers
  • gel development
  • gel evaluation
  • formulation optimization
  • gels in cancer therapy
  • tissue engineering

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2430 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Calcium Ions and pH on Fluoride Release from Commercial Fluoride Gels in an In Vitro Study
by Paweł J. Piszko, Michał Kulus, Aleksandra Piszko, Jan Kiryk, Sylwia Kiryk, Julia Kensy, Agata Małyszek, Mateusz Michalak, Wojciech Dobrzyński, Jacek Matys and Maciej Dobrzyński
Gels 2025, 11(7), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11070486 - 23 Jun 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 286
Abstract
Fluoride gels are widely used in dental prophylaxis due to their proven ability to prevent demineralization and promote remineralization of hard dental tissues. However, the effectiveness of fluoride release from such gels may be significantly influenced by environmental factors such as pH and [...] Read more.
Fluoride gels are widely used in dental prophylaxis due to their proven ability to prevent demineralization and promote remineralization of hard dental tissues. However, the effectiveness of fluoride release from such gels may be significantly influenced by environmental factors such as pH and the presence of calcium ions. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate how these variables affect fluoride ion release from three commercially available fluoride gels—Clarben, Flairesse, and Lunos. The gels were incubated in artificial saliva of varying pH levels (4.5, 6.0, 7.0, and 7.5) with and without the addition of calcium, as well as in other water-based media—tap water, deionized water, and 0.9% NaCl solution. Fluoride release and changes in pH were measured and statistically analyzed using a multifactorial ANOVA. The results revealed that fluoride release was highest in calcium-free environments and at neutral to slightly alkaline pH, while the presence of calcium significantly reduced fluoride availability. Among the tested products, Flairesse and Lunos exhibited sensitivity to calcium’s presence, unlike Clarben. Fluoride release was generally higher in water than in artificial saliva. Additionally, all gels induced a decrease in pH, which varied depending on the initial pH and calcium content. These findings underline the importance of environmental conditions in optimizing the clinical efficacy of fluoride gel applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer-Based Gels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering (2nd Edition))
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25 pages, 10794 KiB  
Article
Effects of Melatonin-Loaded Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) Transdermal Gel on Sleep Quality
by Wei Zhao, Fengyu Wang, Liying Huang, Bo Song, Junzi Wu, Yongbo Zhang, Wuyi Du, Yan Li and Sen Tong
Gels 2025, 11(6), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11060435 - 5 Jun 2025
Viewed by 627
Abstract
The rapid pace of modern life has contributed to a significant decline in sleep quality, which has become an urgent global public health issue. Melatonin, an endogenous hormone that regulates circadian rhythms, is vital in maintaining normal sleep cycles. While oral melatonin supplementation [...] Read more.
The rapid pace of modern life has contributed to a significant decline in sleep quality, which has become an urgent global public health issue. Melatonin, an endogenous hormone that regulates circadian rhythms, is vital in maintaining normal sleep cycles. While oral melatonin supplementation is widely used, transdermal delivery systems present advantages that include the avoidance of first-pass metabolism effects and enhanced bioavailability. In this study, a novel melatonin transdermal delivery system was successfully developed using a thermosensitive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) [p(NVCL)]-based carrier. The p(NVCL) polymer was synthesized through free radical polymerization and characterized for its structural properties and phase transition temperature, in alignment with skin surface conditions. Orthogonal optimization experiments identified 3% azone, 3% menthol, and 4% borneol as the optimal enhancer combination for enhanced transdermal absorption. The formulation demonstrated exceptional melatonin loading characteristics with high encapsulation efficiency and stable physicochemical properties, including an appropriate pH and optimal moisture content. Comprehensive in vivo evaluation using normal mouse models revealed significant sleep quality improvements, specifically a shortened sleep latency and extended non-rapid eye movement sleep duration, with elevated serum melatonin and serotonin levels. Safety assessments including histopathological examination, biochemical analysis, and 28-day continuous administration studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility with no adverse reactions or systemic toxicity. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging provided direct evidence of enhanced transdermal absorption and superior biodistribution compared to oral administration. These findings indicate that the p(NVCL)-based melatonin transdermal gel system offers a safe, effective and convenient non-prescription option for sleep regulation, with promising potential for clinical translation as a consumer sleep aid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer-Based Gels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering (2nd Edition))
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Review

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29 pages, 3448 KiB  
Review
New Gel Approaches for the Transdermal Delivery of Meloxicam
by Ioana-Alexandra Plugariu, Maria Bercea and Luiza Madalina Gradinaru
Gels 2025, 11(7), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11070500 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 327
Abstract
Meloxicam is a promising non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for acute and chronic pain prevention and treatment. Due to its poor water solubility, the clinical use of meloxicam is limited. In addition, for transdermal applications, the impermeability of the skin makes it difficult to [...] Read more.
Meloxicam is a promising non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for acute and chronic pain prevention and treatment. Due to its poor water solubility, the clinical use of meloxicam is limited. In addition, for transdermal applications, the impermeability of the skin makes it difficult to conceive an appropriate NSAID-based delivery system that can penetrate through the skin barrier. Hydrophilic/hydrophobic gels, designed as transdermal drug delivery systems, can considerably improve other drug administration types (such as oral or intravenous), avoiding or limiting the side effects. The main purpose of this paper is to present some physicochemical and pharmaceutical considerations about meloxicam and to review the most important research concerning the gels used for the transdermal delivery of meloxicam. Thus, smart polymeric networks, semi-solid systems (lipogels, emulgels), β-cyclodextrin-based gels, liposomes (ethosomes, niosomes, flexosomes, transferosomes, menthosomes, invasomes), and nanostructured lipid carriers, with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, are discussed. The key objective of this study was to highlight various gel formulations with enhanced properties, which could be used in a minimally invasive manner for the sustained administration of meloxicam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer-Based Gels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering (2nd Edition))
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