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Gels
Special Issues
State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China
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State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China

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 8945

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ziguang Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
Interests: bio-inspired soft materials; multiphase gel materials; heterogeneous interface
Dr. Weipeng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Interests: controlled ion transport; ionic hydrogel; nanofluidic membrane
Dr. Chongyu Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Interests: polymerization techniques; bioconjugation; drug delivery systems; hydrogels; responsive materials; degradable polymer; medical applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue, we will showcase high-quality gel research from China.

The Issue aims to highlight state-of-the-art advancements in gel-related materials, e.g., hydrogels and organogels, aerogels/xerogels, hybrid/composite gels, and micro/nano-gels. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, functional network design, mechanics, dynamics, physical/chemical properties, and various smart features. We will also focus on the promising interdisciplinary applications of these soft materials, such as in medical uses, bioengineering, smart sensors, iontronic devices, soft machines, thermal insulation, environmental treatments, in the food industry, and in energy storage. We highly anticipate this Special Issue as it promises to bring forth the newest developments in Chinese gel research.

We sincerely invite researchers and scholars in China to submit original articles or short communications reporting the newest and exciting research results on gel materials, or reviews on the advancements and challenges in soft matter science. We hope that this Issue will provide an open, smooth, and efficient platform for relevant researchers and communities.

Dr. Ziguang Zhao
Dr. Weipeng Chen
Dr. Chongyu Zhu
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

  • gels
  • soft materials
  • hydrogel, aerogel, xerogel, cryogel
  • microgel, nanogel
  • lipogel, emulgel, ionogel, metallogel
  • food gel, bigel
  • mechanical performance
  • smart features
  • interdisciplinary applications, etc.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2023 KiB  
Article
Effects of Inorganic Salts on Curdlan Production and Structural Properties
by Xinyi Zhu, Bowei Yao, Siyang Yue, Zhongyi Chang, Xuexia Yang and Hongliang Gao
Gels 2025, 11(5), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050313 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 224
Abstract
This research investigates the influence of inorganic salts on curdlan production, gel strength, molecular weight (Mw), and texture properties, to provide insights into optimizing fermentation conditions. Five different inorganic salts were individually incorporated into the fermentation medium to assess their impact. The results [...] Read more.
This research investigates the influence of inorganic salts on curdlan production, gel strength, molecular weight (Mw), and texture properties, to provide insights into optimizing fermentation conditions. Five different inorganic salts were individually incorporated into the fermentation medium to assess their impact. The results showed that FeCl3 significantly reduced curdlan yield, Mw, and gel quality, indicating its unsuitability for curdlan fermentation. FeSO4 at 0.01% enhanced yield, gel strength, and texture properties, such as springiness and chewiness, though higher concentrations had adverse effects. MnCl2 exhibited limited impact on yield, with low concentrations notably decreasing gel strength, hardness, springiness, and chewiness. CoCl2 was the most effective additive, with a concentration of 0.002% achieving optimal results for yield, Mw, gel strength, and texture, though higher levels diminished these benefits. ZnCl2 at 0.04% improved gel strength, chewiness, and Mw but had minimal effect on other properties. A correlation (R2 = 0.5064) was observed between Mw and gel strength, indicating Mw’s critical role in curdlan’s mechanical properties. Overall, CoCl2 and FeSO4 at specific concentrations demonstrated potential for enhancing curdlan quality and offered practical insights for tailoring fermentation processes to achieve desired properties in industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China)
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17 pages, 3587 KiB  
Article
Effects of Extrusion Treatment on the Physicochemical and Baking Quality of Japonica Rice Batters and Rice Breads
by Wenxia He, Jingni Tang, Yang Chen, Guanhui Liu, Zhenni Li, Jie Tu and Yixuan Li
Gels 2025, 11(2), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11020086 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 887
Abstract
Gluten-free rice bread made from japonica rice finds challenge in achieving a good shape and structure, presenting a significant obstacle in the baking industry. This study aims to improve the quality of rice bread with japonica rice flour by hot extrusion treatment (without [...] Read more.
Gluten-free rice bread made from japonica rice finds challenge in achieving a good shape and structure, presenting a significant obstacle in the baking industry. This study aims to improve the quality of rice bread with japonica rice flour by hot extrusion treatment (without additives). The effects of extrusion on the amylose content, gelatinization degree, hydration capacity, short-range molecular ordering, and microstructure of japonica rice flour were investigated. The results show that the amylose content of the extruded flour increased by 12.43% and the gelatinization degree of it increased by 13.23 times, showing disrupted starch granules, numerous pores, and a better hydration capacity. The addition of extruded flour improved the overall viscoelasticity of the batter. Compared to the control group, the specific volume and porosity of the optimized rice bread were increased by 19.46% and 61.92%, respectively. The gas cell density was increased by 4.63 times, and the average gas cell area of rice bread was reduced by 47.14%. The correlations among the raw material properties of rice flour, the batter properties, and the quality of rice bread products were revealed by principal component analysis. This study demonstrates that the addition of moderate amounts of extruded japonica rice flour could improve the quality of rice bread products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China)
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12 pages, 2408 KiB  
Article
Lithium-Ion-Sieve Hydrogel Based on Aluminum Doping with High Stretchability, Strong Adsorption Capacity and Low Dissolution Loss
by Yujie Zhang, Yang Wang, Le Guo, Chenzhengzhe Yan, Long Li, Shuyun Cui and Yujie Wang
Gels 2024, 10(11), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10110710 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1792
Abstract
In recent years, with the development of the new energy industry, lithium resources need to be supplied in large quantities. The lithium-ion sieve (LIS) is regarded as an ideal adsorbent for recovering lithium resources from brine because of its excellent lithium adsorption capacity [...] Read more.
In recent years, with the development of the new energy industry, lithium resources need to be supplied in large quantities. The lithium-ion sieve (LIS) is regarded as an ideal adsorbent for recovering lithium resources from brine because of its excellent lithium adsorption capacity and structural stability. However, because it is powdery after molding, and there will be problems such as dissolution loss of manganese, which limits its industrial development. In this study, in the process of preparing hydrogels of acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM) and chitosan (CS), an LIS hydrogel with high mechanical properties, strong adsorption capacity and low dissolution loss was prepared by doping LIS and Al ions. Among them, the stress of the prepared chitosan–acrylic acid–acrylamide hydrogel (PASA-1) with an Al doping content of 1% reached 603 KPa, and the maximum strain reached 189%, which showed excellent damage resistance. In addition, the adsorption performance of PASA-1 reached 43.2 mg/g, which was excellent, which was attributed to the addition of Al ions, which inhibited the dissolution loss of manganese ions. This idea has great potential in the direction of lithium resource recovery and provides a new method for the use of hydrogel in the direction of lithium-ion sieves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China)
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14 pages, 3147 KiB  
Article
Biocompatible Hydrogel Coating on Silicone Rubber with Improved Antifouling and Durable Lubricious Properties
by Shuai Gao, Zheng Liu, Wei Zeng, Yunfeng Zhang, Fanjun Zhang, Dimeng Wu and Yunbing Wang
Gels 2024, 10(10), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10100647 - 11 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2145
Abstract
Silicone rubber is widely used in various medical applications. However, silicone rubber is prone to biofouling due to their affinity for lipids and has a high friction coefficient, which can significantly impact their efficacy and performance used as medical devices. Thus, the development [...] Read more.
Silicone rubber is widely used in various medical applications. However, silicone rubber is prone to biofouling due to their affinity for lipids and has a high friction coefficient, which can significantly impact their efficacy and performance used as medical devices. Thus, the development of hydrogels with antifouling and lubricious abilities for the modification of silicone rubber is in high demand. We herein prepared a variety of hydrogel coatings mainly based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). We modified the silicone rubber using the prepared hydrogel coatings and cured it using a heating method. Then, we characterized its surface and evaluated the antifouling property, lubricious property, cytotoxicity, sensitization, and vaginal irritation. The results of water contact angle (WCA), protein adsorption, and friction coefficient indicated the success of the modification of the silicone rubber, leading to a significant decrease in the corresponding test values. Meanwhile, the results of cytotoxicity, sensitization, and vaginal irritation tests showed that the hydrogel coating-modified silicone rubbers have an excellent biocompatibility. This study describes how the silicone rubber could be modified with a biocompatible hydrogel coating. The hydrogel coating-modified silicone rubbers have improved antifouling and durable lubricious properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China)
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Review

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34 pages, 14561 KiB  
Review
Progress in Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels for Preventing Postoperative Adhesions: A Review
by Mengyao Chen, Jialin Liu, Jianhong Lin, Kai Zhuang, Yudong Shan, Sandip Tiwari, Lei Jiang and Jiantao Zhang
Gels 2025, 11(3), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030188 - 8 Mar 2025
Viewed by 759
Abstract
Postoperative adhesions are common complications following surgery, often accompanied by pain and inflammation that significantly diminish patients’ quality of life. Moreover, managing postoperative adhesions incurs substantial cost, imposing a considerable financial burden on both patients and healthcare systems. Traditional anti-adhesion materials are confronted [...] Read more.
Postoperative adhesions are common complications following surgery, often accompanied by pain and inflammation that significantly diminish patients’ quality of life. Moreover, managing postoperative adhesions incurs substantial cost, imposing a considerable financial burden on both patients and healthcare systems. Traditional anti-adhesion materials are confronted with limitations, such as inadequate tissue adherence in a moist environment and poor degradability, underscoring the urgent need for more effective solutions. Recently, polysaccharide-based hydrogels have received considerable attention for their potential in preventing postoperative adhesions. The hydrogels not only facilitate wound healing but also effectively reduce inflammation, providing a promising approach to preventing postoperative adhesions. This review provides an extensive analysis of the progress made in the development of polysaccharide-based hydrogels for postoperative anti-adhesion therapy. It highlights their principal benefits, outlines future research trajectories, and addresses the ongoing challenges that need to be overcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China)
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15 pages, 5368 KiB  
Review
Dynamic Hydrogels against Infections: From Design to Applications
by Ming Zhang and Chongyu Zhu
Gels 2024, 10(5), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10050331 - 14 May 2024
Viewed by 2099
Abstract
Human defense against infection remains a global topic. In addition to developing novel anti-infection drugs, therapeutic drug delivery strategies are also crucial to achieving a higher efficacy and lower toxicity of these drugs for treatment. The application of hydrogels has been proven to [...] Read more.
Human defense against infection remains a global topic. In addition to developing novel anti-infection drugs, therapeutic drug delivery strategies are also crucial to achieving a higher efficacy and lower toxicity of these drugs for treatment. The application of hydrogels has been proven to be an effective localized drug delivery approach to treating infections without generating significant systemic adverse effects. The recent emerging dynamic hydrogels further show power as injectable formulations, giving new tools for clinical treatments. In this review, we delve into the potential applications of dynamic hydrogels in antibacterial and antiviral treatments and elaborate on their molecular designs and practical implementations. By outlining the chemical designs underlying these hydrogels, we discuss how the choice of dynamic chemical bonds affects their stimulus responsiveness, self-healing capabilities, and mechanical properties. Afterwards, we focus on how to endow dynamic hydrogels with anti-infection properties. By comparing different drug-loading methods, we highlight the advantages of dynamic chemical bonds in achieving sustained and controlled drug release. Moreover, we also include the design principles and uses of hydrogels that possess inherent anti-infective properties. Furthermore, we explore the design principles and applications of hydrogels with inherent anti-infective properties. Finally, we briefly summarize the current challenges faced by dynamic hydrogels and present a forward-looking vision for their future development. Through this review, we expect to draw more attention to these therapeutic strategies among scientists working with chemistry, materials, as well as pharmaceutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Gel Research in China)
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