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Gels
Special Issues
Advances in Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine
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Advances in Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2025 | Viewed by 3868

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Martina Lenzuni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), Italian National Council of Research (CNR), Genoa, Italy
Interests: biomaterials; nanostructures; tissue regeneration; cell-material interactions; bioengineering; electromagnetic effects; material computational modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Dongdong Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: polymer materials; hydrogel

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels have gained significant attention in regenerative medicine due to their remarkable ability to mimic the extracellular matrix, support cell proliferation, and facilitate targeted drug delivery. These highly versatile materials are engineered to provide suitable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and degradation rates, making them ideal for tissue engineering, wound healing, and controlled release applications. Advances in hydrogel design and functionalization continue to open new pathways for customized medical solutions, addressing complex challenges in tissue regeneration and therapeutic delivery.

Given the pivotal role of hydrogels in emerging biomedical applications, we are pleased to invite you to submit your latest findings and insights on hydrogels in regenerative medicine to contribute to this rapidly evolving area. This Special Issue aims to bring together research and review articles focusing on the latest advancements in hydrogel technologies specifically tailored for regenerative medicine. The goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of studies that highlight innovative approaches to scaffold design, cell–matrix interactions, and drug release mechanisms within the scope of regenerative medicine. The submission of both theoretical and experimental studies is welcome.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Design and synthesis of novel hydrogels for tissue engineering applications;
  • Smart hydrogels for controlled drug delivery in regenerative medicine;
  • Stimuli-responsive hydrogels activated by ultrasound, electromagnetic fields, or other external factors;
  • Biofunctionalization of hydrogels for cell integration;
  • Hydrogels in 3D bioprinting and scaffold development;
  • Injectable hydrogels for minimally invasive regenerative therapies;
  • Mechanistic studies of hydrogel degradation and bio-resorption in vivo;
  • Application of hydrogels in wound healing and skin regeneration;
  • Hydrogel-based microenvironments for stem cell differentiation and tissue regeneration;
  • Computational modeling and simulation of hydrogel behavior in biological environments.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Martina Lenzuni
Dr. Dongdong Zhou
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

  • hydrogels
  • regenerative medicine
  • biomaterials
  • tissue engineering
  • drug delivery
  • 3D bioprinting
  • scaffold design
  • biocompatibility
  • stimuli-responsive hydrogels

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

32 pages, 2441 KB  
Review
Tailoring Therapy: Hydrogels as Tunable Platforms for Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Intervention
by Camelia Munteanu, Eftimia Prifti, Adrian Surd and Sorin Marian Mârza
Gels 2025, 11(9), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11090679 - 24 Aug 2025
Viewed by 129
Abstract
Hydrogels are water-rich polymeric networks mimicking the body’s extracellular matrix, making them highly biocompatible and ideal for precision medicine. Their “tunable” and “smart” properties enable the precise adjustment of mechanical, chemical, and physical characteristics, allowing responses to specific stimuli such as pH or [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are water-rich polymeric networks mimicking the body’s extracellular matrix, making them highly biocompatible and ideal for precision medicine. Their “tunable” and “smart” properties enable the precise adjustment of mechanical, chemical, and physical characteristics, allowing responses to specific stimuli such as pH or temperature. These versatile materials offer significant advantages over traditional drug delivery by facilitating targeted, localized, and on-demand therapies. Applications range from diagnostics and wound healing to tissue engineering and, notably, cancer therapy, where they deliver anti-cancer agents directly to tumors, minimizing systemic toxicity. Hydrogels’ design involves careful material selection and crosslinking techniques, which dictate properties like swelling, degradation, and porosity—all crucial for their effectiveness. The development of self-healing, tough, and bio-functional hydrogels represents a significant step forward, promising advanced biomaterials that can actively sense, react to, and engage in complex biological processes for a tailored therapeutic approach. Beyond their mechanical resilience and adaptability, these hydrogels open avenues for next-generation therapies, such as dynamic wound dressings that adapt to healing stages, injectable scaffolds that remodel with growing tissue, or smart drug delivery systems that respond to real-time biochemical cues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine)
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17 pages, 1362 KB  
Review
Advanced Hydrogels in Fibrocartilage Regeneration of the Glenoid Labrum
by Benjamin R. Caruso, Jihun Cha and Tammam Hanna
Gels 2025, 11(8), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080652 - 18 Aug 2025
Viewed by 406
Abstract
Glenoid labral tears are relatively common orthopedic injuries in adults. Anatomically, the glenoid labrum is a fibrocartilaginous structure that contributes to shoulder stability and function. The treatment for labral injury may be conservative, such as activity modification and rest, or operative, depending on [...] Read more.
Glenoid labral tears are relatively common orthopedic injuries in adults. Anatomically, the glenoid labrum is a fibrocartilaginous structure that contributes to shoulder stability and function. The treatment for labral injury may be conservative, such as activity modification and rest, or operative, depending on the extent of tissue damage. Hydrogels are polymeric networks with great potential in treating glenoid labral tears and other cartilage-related injuries. Hydrogels are highly biocompatible, hydrophilic, and non-immunogenic, with tunable mechanical properties that support nutrient diffusion, cell viability, and angiogenesis, making them well suited for cartilage regeneration. Hydrogels can deliver growth factors like TGF-β or PDGF and may be combined with peptides or adhesion molecules to enhance tissue integration, repair, and even physical support. This article introduces current treatment options for glenoid labral injuries, reviews the role of hydrogels in cartilage regeneration, and summarizes recent translational research focused on hydrogel-based labral repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine)
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Figure 1

30 pages, 11860 KB  
Review
Bioprinting Vascularized Constructs for Clinical Relevance: Engineering Hydrogel Systems for Biological Maturity
by Jeonghyun Son, Siyuan Li and Wonwoo Jeong
Gels 2025, 11(8), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080636 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 656
Abstract
Vascularization remains a critical challenge in tissue engineering, limiting graft survival, integration, and clinical translation. Although bioprinting enables spatial control over vascular architectures, many existing approaches prioritize geometric precision over biological performance. Bioprinted vasculature can be understood as a dynamic and time-dependent system [...] Read more.
Vascularization remains a critical challenge in tissue engineering, limiting graft survival, integration, and clinical translation. Although bioprinting enables spatial control over vascular architectures, many existing approaches prioritize geometric precision over biological performance. Bioprinted vasculature can be understood as a dynamic and time-dependent system that requires tissue-specific maturation. Within this framework, hydrogel systems act as active microenvironments rather than passive scaffolds. Hydrogel platforms vary from natural matrices and synthetic polymers to bioinspired or stimuli-responsive systems, each offering tunable control over stiffness, degradation, and biochemical signaling needed for vascular maturation. The design requirements of large and small vessels differ in terms of mechanical demands, remodeling capacity, and host integration. A key limitation in current models is the absence of time-resolved evaluation, as critical processes such as lumen formation, pericyte recruitment, and flow-induced remodeling occur progressively and are not captured by static endpoints. Advancements in bioprinting technologies are evaluated based on their capacity to support hydrogel-mediated vascularization across varying length scales and structural complexities. A framework for functional assessment is proposed, and translational challenges related to immunogenicity, scalability, and regulatory requirements are discussed. Such integration of hydrogel-driven biological cues and bioprinting fidelity is critical to advancing vascularized constructs toward clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine)
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26 pages, 2983 KB  
Review
3D-Printed Hydrogels from Natural Polymers for Biomedical Applications: Conventional Fabrication Methods, Current Developments, Advantages, and Challenges
by Berk Uysal, Ujith S. K. Madduma-Bandarage, Hasani G. Jayasinghe and Sundar Madihally
Gels 2025, 11(3), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030192 - 9 Mar 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2078
Abstract
Hydrogels are network polymers with high water-bearing capacity resembling the extracellular matrix. Recently, many studies have focused on synthesizing hydrogels from natural sources as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, and readily available. However, the structural complexities of biological tissues and organs limit the use [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are network polymers with high water-bearing capacity resembling the extracellular matrix. Recently, many studies have focused on synthesizing hydrogels from natural sources as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, and readily available. However, the structural complexities of biological tissues and organs limit the use of hydrogels fabricated with conventional methods. Since 3D printing can overcome this barrier, more interest has been drawn toward the 3D printing of hydrogels. This review discusses the structure of hydrogels and their potential biomedical applications with more emphasis on natural hydrogels. There is a discussion on various formulations of alginates, chitosan, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid. Furthermore, we discussed the 3D printing techniques available for hydrogels and their advantages and limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine)
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