Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Gels

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 133

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: food colloids; gels; responsive delivery systems; health field

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Stimuli-responsive gels, often referred to as "smart gels," have emerged as a versatile platform in biomedical and food-related applications due to their ability to undergo controlled structural or functional changes in response to specific environmental triggers, such as pH, temperature, enzymes, or reactive oxygen species (ROS). This Special Issue, "Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Gels," aims to showcase cutting-edge research and recent progress in the design, characterization, and application of these intelligent materials.

We welcome original research articles, short communications, perspectives, and comprehensive reviews covering, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Novel synthesis strategies and structural engineering of stimuli-responsive hydrogels, organogels, and micro/nano-gels;
  • Multi-stimuli-responsive systems for controlled drug delivery, particularly in gastrointestinal or inflammatory microenvironments;
  • Bio-inspired and biocompatible gels for tissue engineering, wound healing, and nutraceutical encapsulation;
  • Mechanism studies on gel responsiveness, including molecular dynamics and structure–function relationships;
  • Emerging applications in food science, such as intelligent packaging, bioactive compound delivery, and gut health modulation.

Through this collection, we hope to provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and inspire future innovations in stimuli-responsive materials for health and nutrition.

Dr. Qiongqiong Yang
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-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

  • stimuli-responsive hydrogels
  • smart polymers
  • controlled drug delivery
  • tissue engineering
  • wound healing
  • 3D bioprinting
  • pH-responsive
  • thermo-responsive
  • ROS-responsive
  • enzyme-responsive
  • multi-stimuli responsive microgels
  • nanogels
  • injectable hydrogels
  • self-healing gels
  • biosensors
  • cancer therapy
  • antimicrobial
  • food packaging
  • nutraceutical delivery
  • probiotic encapsulation
  • supramolecular chemistry
  • biomimetic materials
  • microfluidics

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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