Functional Hydrogels: Design, Processing and Biomedical Applications
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 116
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biomedical engineering; hydrogel; collagen
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: lipid nanoparticles; drug delivery; pharmaceutics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Functional hydrogels have emerged as a transformative class of biomaterials, offering unparalleled versatility in biomedical applications due to their tunable physicochemical properties, high biocompatibility, and stimuli-responsive behavior. Recent advances in hydrogel design and processing—including dynamic crosslinking strategies, 3D bioprinting, and nanocomposite integration—have unlocked new possibilities for tailored drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and diagnostic platforms. However, challenges remain in optimizing hydrogel performance for site-specific therapeutic delivery, long-term stability, and seamless integration with biological systems.
This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research and reviews regarding the development and application of functional hydrogels, with a focus on innovative strategies to enhance their functionality, adaptability, and clinical utility. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Smart drug delivery systems with controlled release kinetics and targeting capabilities;
- Bioinspired hydrogels mimicking extracellular matrix features for tissue regeneration;
- Advanced fabrication techniques (e.g., photopolymerization, microfluidics) to improve scalability and precision;
- Multifunctional hydrogels integrating antimicrobial, conductive, or self-healing properties;
- Applications in regenerative medicine, wearable sensors, and minimally invasive therapies.
We welcome contributions addressing mechanistic insights, computational modeling, and translational studies that bridge material innovation with clinical needs. Interdisciplinary research exploring synergies between hydrogels and emerging technologies (e.g., CRISPR, organ-on-a-chip) is particularly encouraged.
This Special Issue seeks to foster collaboration among researchers in materials science, chemistry, bioengineering, and medicine in order to accelerate the development of next-generation hydrogel-based solutions for global healthcare challenges.
Prof. Dr. Jianhao Wang
Dr. Cheng Wang
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
- functional hydrogels
- biomedical applications
- drug delivery systems
- tissue engineering
- 3D bioprinting
- stimuli-responsive materials
- regenerative medicine
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