Innovative Approaches of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels: Development, Characterization and Biomedical Applications (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 1041

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Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, “Cristofor Simioescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Protection of the Environment, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Interests: biomaterials; hydrogels; drug delivery; bioactive compounds; polymeric nanoparticles; active targeting of drugs; modification of biopolymers
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Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: cutaneous drug delivery; oral modified drug delivery systems; matrix solid dosage forms; nanoparticles as drug delivery systems; cosmetics and dermatocosmetics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are grateful to all authors, reviewers, and readers for their support of the 1st edition of our Special Issue, titled “Innovative Approaches of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels: Development, Characterization and Biomedical Applications”.

The 2nd edition of this Special Issue, titled “Innovative Approaches of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels: Development, Characterization and Biomedical Applications (2nd Edition),” will analyze the latest advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of hydrogels derived from biopolymers. These natural polymers, which include polysaccharides and proteins, are becoming increasingly important in the biomedical field. Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks that can absorb substantial quantities of water or biological fluids and are obtained by the chemical or physical cross-linking of the polymer chains. Due to their high water content, porosity, and soft texture, they simulate natural living tissue, making them a top choice among synthetic materials. Their growing popularity is attributed mainly to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and their ability to tailor their properties for specific uses, making them a compelling choice for a wide range of applications.

Various types of hydrogels are available for biomedical applications, including pH-sensitive hydrogels, thermogels, electro-sensitive hydrogels, and light-sensitive hydrogels, which could be used in the field of drug delivery or regenerative medicine.

A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to better understand the properties of these biomaterials that are based on hydrogels and are used in biomedical applications, as well as understanding their interactions with cells and biological tissues. This approach can cover various topics such as synthesizing biopolymer-based hydrogels, hydrogel structure, interactions of macromolecules with biological tissue, properties of biomaterials used for specific biomedical applications such as drug delivery, cell carriers and entrapment, wound management, and tissue engineering. We encourage the submission of both original articles and review articles.

Dr. Camelia Elena Iurciuc-Tincu
Prof. Dr. Lacramioara Ochiuz
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 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

  • hydrogels
  • biopolymer
  • sensitive hydrogels
  • functional hydrogels
  • biomaterials
  • synthetic materials
  • drug delivery
  • cell carrier
  • tissue engineering

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 5234 KB  
Article
Fibrin Gel as a Versatile Biomaterial Platform in the Biomedical Landscape: Chemical, Physical, and Biological Insights
by Sabrina Caria, Jessica Petiti, Gerardina Ruocco, Lorenzo Mino, Raffaella Romeo, Gabriele Viada, Laura Revel, Federico Picollo, Valeria Chiono and Carla Divieto
Gels 2026, 12(5), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050351 - 22 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 732
Abstract
Fibrin gel, a protein-based polymer naturally generated during coagulation, has garnered attention in the biomedical field for applications such as fibrin glue, due to its specific physical and biological properties. Despite it, low mechanical strength and rapid degradation limited its utilization for biomedical [...] Read more.
Fibrin gel, a protein-based polymer naturally generated during coagulation, has garnered attention in the biomedical field for applications such as fibrin glue, due to its specific physical and biological properties. Despite it, low mechanical strength and rapid degradation limited its utilization for biomedical applications. This study presents a reproducible protocol for the synthesis of pure fibrin hydrogels, aimed at achieving predictable structural properties through the precise calibration of fibrinogen and thrombin concentrations. By examining the mechanical and morphological characteristics, as well as the relationship between reagent concentrations and structural integrity, this research assesses impacts on swelling behavior, water absorption, and overall stability. Through a comprehensive analytical approach, we identified an optimal formulation, specifically 2.25 mg/mL fibrinogen and 1.375 U/mL thrombin, that effectively balances structural integrity with high cytocompatibility. The results demonstrate that this calibrated approach ensures high procedural reproducibility and a well-defined hydrogel architecture without the need for exogenous chemical cross-linkers. This work provides a robust methodological framework to overcome the common lack of reproducibility in fibrin-based hydrogel studies, positioning these materials as highly reliable candidates for advanced 3D in vitro models and biomedical applications. Full article
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