Advances in Cellulose-Based Gels

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 212

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: nanostructured biomaterials and biocomposites; antibacterial cellulose-based hydrogels; wound dressings

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Guest Editor
Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: biophysics; secondary metabolites; optical spectroscopy and microscopy; plant stress physiology; food quality and safety
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute a manuscript to a Special Issue of Gels entitled “Advances in Cellulose-Based Gels”. We welcome both research and review manuscript submissions.

Cellulose, whether plant-derived or bacterial, is a fundamental organic compound and an essential structural component of primary cell walls. Cellulose-based gels have the remarkable ability to absorb and retain significant amounts of water, and they exhibit a combination of desirable properties—biodegradable, biocompatible, and cost-effective—that make them highly promising materials, particularly for biomedical and environmental applications. These gels are especially attractive for clinical drug-delivery applications, as they can be fabricated into various physical forms, including nanoparticles, coatings, fibers, and films. Also, they have broad potential applications, such as water treatment, in the food industry, and in the field of electrochemical and electronic materials.

This Special Issue will highlight the latest advancements in the design of cellulose-based gels for diverse applications, focusing on the interactions and mechanisms that trigger their specific functions. It aims to provide readers with an insightful overview of recent trends and future prospects for cellulose-based gels across various fields, with a special emphasis on bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical applications.

We look forward to your contributions to this exciting Special Issue.

Dr. Danica Zmejkoski
Prof. Dr. Ksenija Radotić
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

  • biomedical applications
  • drug delivery systems
  • functional biomaterials
  • environmental application
  • electrochemical materials
  • coatings and films
  • sustainable materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 1683 KB  
Article
Ozone-Loaded Hydrogels as an Eco-Friendly Strategy to Control Phototrophic Biofilms on Cultural Heritage Surfaces
by Erica Sonaglia, Jessica Campos, Mohammad Sharbaf, Emily Schifano, Anna Candida Felici, Luciana Dini, Daniela Uccelletti and Maria Laura Santarelli
Gels 2025, 11(11), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11110888 - 4 Nov 2025
Viewed by 80
Abstract
Biodeterioration represents a major threat to cultural heritage, as microbial colonization can cause both esthetic and structural damage. The use of conventional chemical biocides raises concerns due to environmental and health risks, potential substrate deterioration, and the emergence of resistant strains. In this [...] Read more.
Biodeterioration represents a major threat to cultural heritage, as microbial colonization can cause both esthetic and structural damage. The use of conventional chemical biocides raises concerns due to environmental and health risks, potential substrate deterioration, and the emergence of resistant strains. In this study, an ozone-loaded bacterial cellulose (OBC) hydrogel was investigated as an eco-friendly, broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment in the case study of the Cryptoporticus of the Baths of Trajan (Rome, Italy), a hypogean archeological site where some structures are severely affected by phototrophic biofilms. Microorganisms isolated from a colonized wall were employed in laboratory assays. OBC hydrogel exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, with >90% bacterial mortality within 10 min, complete inhibition of fungal spore germination after 24 h, and a marked reduction in microalgal chlorophyll fluorescence comparable to heat-killed controls. Furthermore, tests on Carrara marble and brick specimens artificially contaminated with microalgae confirmed the removal of green staining, restoring surface chromatic parameters (ΔE* < 5) comparable to those obtained with a commercial biocide. In situ applications demonstrated significant suppression of green biofilm for at least two months. These findings support OBC hydrogel as a sustainable, effective, and non-toxic alternative to conventional biocides for controlling microbial and microalgal colonization on cultural heritage surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Gels)
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