Polymer-Based Gels

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer-based gels represent a unique and versatile class of materials characterized by their ability to absorb significant amounts of solvent while maintaining their structural integrity.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue highlighting the importance of this research area, delving into the intricate world of polymer-based gels, and exploring their fundamental properties, their diverse applications, and the latest innovations driving their future.

There are three primary objectives for this Special Issue:

• to provide a comprehensive overview of the types of polymers used in gel formation, including both natural polymers, such as cellulose, chitosan, and alginate, and synthetic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyacrylamide (PAM), with an emphasis on the chemistry behind gel formation, highlighting the roles of physical and chemical crosslinking and the mechanisms by which these materials swell and respond to environmental stimuli;
• to explore the numerous applications of polymer-based gels across various fields: biomedical engineering, environmental applications, food industry, cosmetics, and the development of new, advanced uses;
• to lay out the advantages and disadvantages of polymer-based gels, offering readers a balanced view of their capabilities and limitations and concluding with future directions and emerging trends, such as the integration of polymer gels into nanotechnology and smart materials, as well as their potential in sustainable practices and green chemistry.

This Special Issue will serve as an essential resource for researchers, engineers, and students, offering a thorough understanding of the science and technology behind polymer gels and sparking new ideas for their application in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Dr. Antonio Veloso-Fernández
Dr. Bogdan-Marian Tofanica
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.

• polymer gels
• gel formation
• smart materials
• sustainable materials
• biopolymers
• polymer chemistry
• gel synthesis