Regenerating and Repairing Gels
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 199
Special Issue Editor
2. Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering (CRC-Tier I), Department of Min-Met-Materials Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: biomaterials; bioactivity; biofunctionality; regenerative hydrogels; dual-setting materials; biocomposite; natural blends; bone cements
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Gels and hydrogels have become an integral component of modern biomaterials research, offering versatile platforms for regeneration and repair in contemporary medicine. Their high water content, structural resemblance to native extracellular matrices, and broadly tunable physicochemical properties enable close interaction with biological tissue, making them particularly attractive for regenerative applications. As a result, (bio)gels are increasingly investigated for use in tissue regeneration, wound healing, controlled drug delivery, and/or minimally invasive therapeutic strategies.
Recent research trends indicate a clear shift from inert, passive gel systems toward bioactive and biofunctional materials designed to actively modulate biological responses. These advances include the incorporation of bioactive molecules, antimicrobial agents, dynamic crosslinking strategies, and multifunctional components that allow (bio)gels to simultaneously provide mechanical support, biological stimulation, and protection against infection. However, despite significant progress, challenges related to structural stability, degradation control, biological long-term performance, and clinical translation remain fully unresolved.
This Special Issue, titled “Regenerating and Repairing Gels”, aims to present recent advances and emerging concepts in the design, modification, and application of gel-based biomaterials for regenerative and reparative medicine. Particular emphasis will be placed on innovative strategies that improve biomechanical performance, bioactivity, antimicrobial functionality, and responsiveness to the biological environment. Such approaches are essential for tailoring (bio)gel systems to specific clinical indications, including skin regeneration, soft tissue repair, bone healing, and injectable or minimally invasive therapies.
The scope of this Special Issue includes both fundamental and applied studies on (bio)gels and hydrogels, covering their preparation, modification, and comprehensive physicochemical, mechanical and biological characterization. Contributions addressing in vitro biological evaluation, antibacterial activity, and in vivo regenerative or reparative potential are especially encouraged. Natural, synthetic, hybrid, and multifunctional gels are all within the scope of this Issue.
Finally, this Special Issue aims to provide a dedicated forum for interdisciplinary research that advances (bio)gel-based biomaterials toward practical and clinical implementation. Original research articles, short communications, and review papers are all warmly welcome.
Dr. Marcin Wekwejt
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
- regenerative gels
- bioactive hydrogels
- tissue repair
- biofunctional modification
- injectable gels
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