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Gels
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Functionalized Hydrogels: Biomimetic Design, Adhesion Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications
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Functionalized Hydrogels: Biomimetic Design, Adhesion Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3896

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Chao Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medical and Health Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Interests: gels; antibacterial activity; anti-infection activity; wound healing; anti-inflammatory activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functionalized hydrogels represent a cutting-edge class of biomaterials designed to mimic natural biological systems, offering remarkable properties such as tunable mechanics, biocompatibility, and multifunctionality. In biomedical applications, functionalized hydrogels show immense potential as adhesive wound dressings, drug delivery platforms, tissue engineering scaffolds, and bioelectronic interfaces. Their ability to adapt to dynamic biological environments while maintaining robust performance makes them ideal for use in regenerative medicine and minimally invasive therapies. Current research aims to optimize their multifunctionality, biodegradability, and integration with smart technologies, further bridging the gap between synthetic materials and biological systems. These advancements position functionalized hydrogels as transformative tools for next-generation healthcare solutions.

This Special Issue, “Functionalized Hydrogels: Biomimetic Design, Adhesion Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications”, will explore the latest advancements in biomimetic design strategies. It will focus on adhesion mechanisms, including physical (e.g., hydrogen bonds and electrostatic forces) and chemical (e.g., catechol-based, Schiff base, and enzyme-mediated crosslinking) interactions, enabling robust and adaptable bioadhesion for diverse applications.

We invite the submission of original research and reviews on novel hydrogel functionalization techniques, mechanistic studies, and translational developments. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the transition of functionalized hydrogels from lab-scale breakthroughs to real-world medical solutions.

Dr. Chao Zhou
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

  • functional hydrogels
  • biomimicry
  • tissue regeneration
  • wound dressing
  • drug delivery
  • engineering scaffolds
  • bioelectronic interfaces
  • wearable sensors
  • hydrogel microneedles.

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1183 KB  
Article
The Influence of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) Infusions on the Techno-Functionality of k-Carrageenan Hydrogels
by Andreea Pușcaș, Cristian Szekely, Flavius George Viorel, Alexandra Raluca Lazăr, Anda Elena Tanislav, Andruța Elena Mureșan and Vlad Mureșan
Gels 2026, 12(4), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040313 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 746
Abstract
In the current study, bioactive-loaded hydrogels were developed with k-carrageenan (1%), and water was replaced with infusions of Urtica dioica L., which modulated the polymer chains to create more robust networks. Urtica dioica L. infusions were obtained with different infusion durations (5 or [...] Read more.
In the current study, bioactive-loaded hydrogels were developed with k-carrageenan (1%), and water was replaced with infusions of Urtica dioica L., which modulated the polymer chains to create more robust networks. Urtica dioica L. infusions were obtained with different infusion durations (5 or 10 min) or plant-to-water ratios (0.4, 1, or 2 g/100 mL). The hydrogels were characterized for stability by assessing the syneresis rate and textural and rheological attributes. To elucidate the influence of the infusion on the mechanisms of k-carragenan, temperature ramp tests were applied and FTIR spectra were acquired. Replacing water with Urtica dioica L. infusions for obtaining k-carrageenan hydrogels led to lower syneresis rates (3.34 ± 0.03% and 6.67 ± 0.33%), while the hydrogels showed increased hardness, but lower resilience and cohesiveness. The rheological parameters confirmed the reinforcement; higher G′ and gelling temperatures were registered compared to the reference. While FTIR spectra showed that the primary chemical backbone remained intact, the physicochemical changes indicate a strong physical synergy between nettle polyphenols and the κ-carrageenan chains. Of all samples, the highest antioxidant potential value of 94.66% was exhibited by the infusion obtained in 15 min with a ratio of plant material of 2/100 g. These findings demonstrate that plant-to-water ratios and infusion times are critical parameters for tuning the physical properties and biological efficacy of hydrogels for medical or food applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Hydrogels: Biomimetic Design, Adhesion Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications)
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14 pages, 3088 KB  
Article
CAF-Driven Mechanotransduction via Collagen Remodeling Accelerates Tumor Cell Cycle Progression
by Yating Xiao, Yingying Jiang, Ting Bao, Xin Hu, Xiang Wang, Xiaoning Han and Linhong Deng
Gels 2025, 11(8), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080642 - 13 Aug 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2359
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) restructure collagen hydrogels via actomyosin-driven fibril bundling and crosslinking, increasing polymer density to generate mechanical stress that accelerates tumor proliferation. Conventional hydrogel models lack spatial heterogeneity, thus obscuring how localized stiffness gradients regulate cell cycle progression. To address this, we [...] Read more.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) restructure collagen hydrogels via actomyosin-driven fibril bundling and crosslinking, increasing polymer density to generate mechanical stress that accelerates tumor proliferation. Conventional hydrogel models lack spatial heterogeneity, thus obscuring how localized stiffness gradients regulate cell cycle progression. To address this, we developed a collagen hydrogel-based microtissue platform integrated with programmable microstrings (single/double tethering), enabling real-time quantification of gel densification mechanics and force transmission efficiency. Using this system combined with FUCCI cell cycle biosensors and molecular perturbations, we demonstrate that CAF-polarized contraction increases hydrogel stiffness (350 → 775 Pa) and reduces pore diameter (5.0 → 1.9 μm), activating YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation via collagen–integrin–actomyosin cascades. This drives a 2.4-fold proliferation increase and accelerates G1/S transition in breast cancer cells. Pharmacological inhibition of YAP (verteporfin), actomyosin (blebbistatin), or collagen disruption (collagenase) reversed mechanotransduction and proliferation. Partial rescue upon CYR61 knockdown revealed compensatory effector networks. Our work establishes CAF-remodeled hydrogels as biomechanical regulators of tumor growth and positions gel-based mechanotherapeutics as promising anti-cancer strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Hydrogels: Biomimetic Design, Adhesion Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications)
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Review

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39 pages, 3122 KB  
Review
Designing Multifunctional Antibacterial Hydrogels: A Tri-Pillar Approach Based on Bacteriophages, Hydroxyapatite, and Electrospun Systems
by Jordi Puiggalí
Gels 2026, 12(4), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040335 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 372
Abstract
The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria represents one of the most critical challenges in modern healthcare and has stimulated intense research into alternative antimicrobial strategies. Antibacterial hydrogels have emerged as versatile biomaterials due to their high water content, tunable physicochemical properties, and ability [...] Read more.
The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria represents one of the most critical challenges in modern healthcare and has stimulated intense research into alternative antimicrobial strategies. Antibacterial hydrogels have emerged as versatile biomaterials due to their high water content, tunable physicochemical properties, and ability to function as multifunctional platforms for drug delivery and tissue regeneration. This review analyzes recent advances in antibacterial hydrogel systems through a conceptual framework based on three complementary pillars: biological antibacterial agents, inorganic functional components, and structural material engineering. Biological strategies, particularly bacteriophage-based approaches, provide highly specific antibacterial activity capable of targeting multidrug-resistant pathogens and disrupting bacterial biofilms. Inorganic components such as hydroxyapatite nanoparticles contribute additional functionalities including drug adsorption, modulation of the ionic microenvironment, and osteoconductive behavior relevant for bone-related infections. Structural design strategies based on electrospinning enable the fabrication of fibrous architectures that enhance mechanical stability, regulate therapeutic release, and mimic extracellular matrix organization. The integration of these three pillars within multifunctional hydrogel platforms offers promising opportunities for developing advanced antibacterial biomaterials capable of addressing infection control while supporting tissue regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Hydrogels: Biomimetic Design, Adhesion Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications)
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