Hydrogel for Sustained Delivery of Therapeutic Agents (2nd Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer hydrogels are attractive materials utilized for the controlled release of drugs and therapeutic agents due to their ability to embed biologically active agents in 3D-water-swollen networks. The latest advancements in natural biomaterials, polymer chemistry and the bioengineering domain have facilitated numerous developments in the field of hydrogels for the sustained delivery of therapeutic agents. In light of this, the current Special Issue is focused on the state of the art in the field of hydrogels, focusing on several exciting subjects, including cross-linking methods, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, multicomponent hydrogels, aerogels and the release of therapeutic agents from 3D-printed hydrogels. Therefore, the challenges that have been overcome due to advancements in the fields of biodegradable, biocompatible and temperature- and pH-stimuli-responsive hydrogels and interactions between hydrogels and therapeutic agents will also be highlighted.

This Special Issue will also focus on the physical, chemical, pharmacotechnical and biological characterization of polymer hydrogels using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheology and thermal analysis methods and their applications in regenerative medicine and pharmacy. The structure–property relationships of hydrogels are necessary to establish a correlation between the design and shape of a polymer hydrogel and the different drug delivery applications.

In this Special Issue, theoretical and experimental contributions in the forms of literature reviews, full-length original research articles and short communications are welcome.

We welcome and look forward to your submissions.

Dr. Adina Magdalena Musuc
Dr. Magdalena Mititelu
Dr. Mariana Chelu
Guest Editors

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