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Gels
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Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture,...
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Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture, and Biomedicine

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 2601

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniel A. Palacio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Polímeros, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: complex polyelectrolytes; hydrogels; (nano)composites; biobased materials; agricultural applications; biopolymer modification; ultrafiltration processes; removal of emerging organic pollutants; functional polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Víctor Campos-Requena

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Polímeros, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: polymers; alginate; nanocomposites; controlled drug release; food technology
Dr. Manuel Francisco Melendrez Castro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad San Sebastian, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: applied nanotechnology; hybrid materials; nanocomposite hydrogels; biobased material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The design and applications of hydrogels in different fields of application have increased considerably over the years. This is due to the great versatility, properties, and unique solutions that this type of materials provides. Currently, with the challenge of obtaining new, friendlier materials with applications to minimize the impacts caused by climate change. The design of hydrogels and hydrogel-derived materials has become a focus of studies to counteract the current sustainability needs of agriculture, water and biomedicine as part of the global economy and necessary resources on our planet.

Based on the success of the first edition, we are excited to launch a broader second edition of our Special Issue "Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture, and Biomedicine"

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/gels/special_issues/XOZ3307K1I

We seek contributions to advance the design of hydrogel-derived materials for agriculture, water sustainability and biomedical applications, such as hydrogels for the removal of emerging organic pollutants, organic contaminants such as antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, dyes, analgesics and pesticides, among others, and inorganic contaminants such as heavy metals and oxyanions in soil–water matrices. as well as hydrogel-based materials to combat soil droughts, controlled release of agrochemicals, phytohormones and general applications in agriculture. And finally, hydrogels and hydrogel-derived materials for biomedical applications such as drug releasers, wound-healing dressings, smart hydrogels for releasing molecules of biomedical interest and other general applications of hydrogels in biomedical applications. Also welcome are papers in the field of nanocomposite hydrogels, hybrid hydrogels, bio-derived hydrogels and other types of hydrogels for agricultural, water sustainability and biomedical applications.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Daniel A. Palacio
Dr. Víctor Campos-Requena
Dr. Manuel Francisco Melendrez Castro
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 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

  • superabsorbents
  • hydrogels
  • controlled-release hydrogels in agriculture
  • controlled-release hydrogels in biomedicine
  • hydrogels for contaminant removal
  • hybrid and nanocomposite hydrogels for contaminant degradation
  • hydrogel design and characterization
  • application of hydrogels for environmental sustainability, agriculture and biomedicine
  • nanocomposite hydrogels
  • hybrid hydrogels
  • bio-based hydrogels
  • hydrogels for wound healing
  • hydrogels as scaffolds for biomedicine
  • hydrogel-like materials in cell growth applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4031 KB  
Article
A Keratin-Waste Derived Multifunctional Gel System: Reusable Activated Carbon/Alginate Microbeads for Simultaneous Dye and Pharmaceutical Adsorption
by Yue Wang, Lei Zhao, Zhiying Li, Qingqing Xue, Zhenhao Tang, Ge Zhang, Zhiqiang Li and Zifan Wang
Gels 2026, 12(2), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020158 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 484
Abstract
The resource utilization of keratin waste has garnered significant attention, yet the processing of yak hair keratin in underdeveloped regions such as Tibet and Qinghai in China remains challenging. This study addresses these concerns by carbonizing yak hair keratin waste using a steam [...] Read more.
The resource utilization of keratin waste has garnered significant attention, yet the processing of yak hair keratin in underdeveloped regions such as Tibet and Qinghai in China remains challenging. This study addresses these concerns by carbonizing yak hair keratin waste using a steam flash explosion (SFE) technique for 150 s, which is followed by activation with KOH at various ratios and subsequent to produce activated carbon (AC) samples. The AC was then combined with sodium alginate (Alg) at different ratios, pH and applied voltage to yield AC−Alg gel microbeads using an electrospinning method. The characterization of the AC and AC–Alg gel microbeads was conducted using SEM, BET, TG, and FT-IR analysis. In adsorption studies, AC−Alg0.5U gel microbeads prepared with optimized conditions (pH 7, 11 kV, 19 G needle) were used to remove dyes (methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO)) and antibiotic minocycline hydrochloride (MH). Various parameters such as temperature, pH, and adsorbent dose were optimized to obtain the maximum adsorption performance under model concentrations. The experimental results showed that the AC−Alg0.5U gel microbeads can effectively adsorb MB and MO with adsorption capacities of 1038.9 mg/g and 206.2 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the microbeads had the best adsorption performance for MH (1694.2 mg/g), with the kinetics most accurately represented by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.999), and the isotherm followed the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.984). The microbeads maintained a high adsorption capacity of 75% after six cycles. The composite gel microbeads not only utilize yak hair keratin waste but also will be used as durable and favorable adsorbents for the removal of pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture, and Biomedicine)
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19 pages, 3815 KB  
Article
CNF/p(AM-co-KAA) Semi-Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel Fertilizer Carriers for Enhanced Nutrient Use Efficiency, Water Retention, and Salt–Alkali Resistance
by Jingxuan Pan, Yanhong Wang, Jingwei Wang, Weiwen Qiu, Qiang Xiao and Shuqi Dong
Gels 2026, 12(2), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020157 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 492
Abstract
Developing functional agricultural materials that synchronize nutrient release, water retention, and soil amendment is crucial to advancing resource-efficient, sustainable farming systems. However, integrating these multifunctional properties within a single material remains a significant challenge. In this work, we fabricated a multifunctional hydrogel (CPAUH) [...] Read more.
Developing functional agricultural materials that synchronize nutrient release, water retention, and soil amendment is crucial to advancing resource-efficient, sustainable farming systems. However, integrating these multifunctional properties within a single material remains a significant challenge. In this work, we fabricated a multifunctional hydrogel (CPAUH) via a one-pot synthesis strategy, which was composed of carboxylated cellulose nanofibers as a rigid network combined with poly(AA-co-KAA), forming a semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) for loading urea and humic acid. The structure and properties of hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM, and XPS. The CPAUH exhibited outstanding mechanical strength (0.169 MPa), water absorption capacity (121.65 g g−1), and retained 118 g g−1 after three absorption–desorption cycles, demonstrating remarkable structural stability. Nutrient release kinetics revealed sustained-release behavior, with cumulative elution of only 66.91% for urea and 92.45% for humic acid over 15 days. Under salt stress, the 1.5% CPAUH amendment (P2) markedly enhanced wheat growth compared with the non-amended control (P0), as reflected by significant increases in plant height, chlorophyll content, fresh weight, dry weight, and nitrogen uptake. Concurrently, CPAUH application effectively improved soil conditions by reducing electrical conductivity by 39.16% (to 4.38 mS·cm−1). These collective findings of CPAUH hydrogel offer substantial potential as a multifunctional soil amendment for enhancing water-fertilizer efficiency, reclaiming saline–alkali soils, and improving crop productivity under resource-limited conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture, and Biomedicine)
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17 pages, 2366 KB  
Article
Enhancing Restoration of Arid Mining Area Using Lignite-Based Superabsorbent Gel
by Zhaojun Yang, Naeem Akram, Lei Zhou, Saman Khawaja, Yi Zhang and Jia Guo
Gels 2026, 12(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020155 - 9 Feb 2026
Viewed by 475
Abstract
This research designed a high-performance superabsorbent gel aligned on the integration of lignite humic residue (LHR) with a polymeric organic network in order to address ecological restoration challenges in the arid mining area in Xinjiang. This water-retaining agent was synthesized by employing solution [...] Read more.
This research designed a high-performance superabsorbent gel aligned on the integration of lignite humic residue (LHR) with a polymeric organic network in order to address ecological restoration challenges in the arid mining area in Xinjiang. This water-retaining agent was synthesized by employing solution polymerization techniques using acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) as monomers, lignite hydrothermal residue (LHR) as a functional additive, and ammonium persulphate (APS) as the initiator. The resulting lignite hydrothermal residue–polyacrylic gel composite material was obtained by using N,N′-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA) as the primary crosslinking agent. The water absorption capacity and mechanical strength of the acrylic gel were further enhanced by specifically incorporating low-cost, safe, and non-toxic lignite humic residue (LHR). The performance test indicated that this gel achieved a maximum water absorption of 522 g·g−1 in distilled water and 65.5 g·g−1 in 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Its reusability and water absorption capacity remained above 81.8% even after five cycles of natural dehydration and reabsorption. The method for synthesizing this superabsorbent gel effectively constructs a soil water retention network structure, improving the soil microenvironment, and enhancing plant salt tolerance. The field trial results showed that the application of this LHR-AA-AM superabsorbent gel considerably improved vegetation coverage in mining areas. Hence, this study provides an efficient and economical superabsorbent material for ecological restoration of saline–alkali land in arid regions without soil replacement, demonstrating promising application prospects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture, and Biomedicine)
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16 pages, 1591 KB  
Article
Development of Antimicrobial Comb-like Hydrogel Based on PEG and HEMA by Gamma Radiation for Biomedical Use
by Alfredo Contreras, Alejandra Ortega, Héctor Magaña, Jonathan López and Guillermina Burillo
Gels 2026, 12(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010032 - 30 Dec 2025
Viewed by 752
Abstract
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) are polymers used for many biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and antibiofouling properties. In this work, a new comb-like hydrogel based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) grafted onto a polyethylene glycol network (net-PEG) [...] Read more.
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) are polymers used for many biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and antibiofouling properties. In this work, a new comb-like hydrogel based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) grafted onto a polyethylene glycol network (net-PEG) was synthesized by gamma radiation from Co60 in two steps. First, PEG (Mw = 20,000) was crosslinked at 30 kGy, and then HEMA was grafted, varying the concentration (5–20% v/v) and irradiation dose (2.5–15 kGy). Results of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the incorporation of HEMA onto net-PEG. Moreover, the properties of comb-like hydrogel (net-PEG)-g-HEMA were studied through swelling kinetics, drug loading and release, antimicrobial activity, and biocompatibility assays. The findings showed a different behavior in swelling kinetics and drug delivery depending on HEMA grafting. Comb-like hydrogel with 30 and 66% grafting could load more ciprofloxacin (2 mg g−1) than net-PEG (1.5 mg g−1) but only release 38 and 48% at 24 h, respectively. In addition, all drug-loaded hydrogels displayed inhibition for Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) and a cell viability superior of 95% using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (BALT/T3). Comb-like hydrogel has potential application in the biomedical field such as in wound dressings or controlled drug delivery systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials: Focus on Wastewater, Agriculture, and Biomedicine)
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