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Gels
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Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds with a Focus on Medical Use (4th Edition)
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Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds with a Focus on Medical Use (4th Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 2726

Editors

Dr. Federica Re

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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: stem cell transplantation; stem cell biology; regenerative medicine; formation of tissues and organs; mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells (MSCs and HSCs); hydrogel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elisa Borsani

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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: morphology and functional imaging of cells; neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; gene therapy; cell therapy; regenerative medicine; hydrogel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are sincerely grateful to all authors, reviewers, and readers for their valuable support of the previous three editions of our Special Issue, “Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds with a Focus on Medical Use.” We are now pleased to announce the launch of the 4th edition of this Special Issue.

Hydrogel-based scaffolds have rapidly gained attention as promising substrates for cell cultures and tissue regeneration, with their unique ability to create well-defined 3D biofabricated tissues. These scaffolds provide bioactive substrates and structural support, offering topographical and chemical cues that encourage cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue development in vitro and in vivo. The unique characteristics of hydrogels, including their high porosity, interconnectivity, and biocompatibility, make them ideal candidates for tissue engineering applications, allowing for efficient nutrient and oxygen diffusion, vascularization, and cellular responses.

This Special Issue will not only focus on bone, cartilage, and skin regeneration, but also aims to expand the scope by incorporating tissue repair for a variety of clinical applications, including neural engineering, cardiac repair, skeletal muscle regeneration, and vascular tissue engineering. By broadening the spectrum of tissue types, we hope to showcase the versatility of polymer-based scaffolds and their relevance across different medical fields, attracting contributions from a wider research community.

Additionally, we invite comparative discussions on the common challenges and strategies employed across different tissue types, including the optimization of scaffold properties for specific applications. We believe this expansion will enhance the impact and visibility of the Special Issue, making it a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

We look forward to your contributions and to advancing the exciting field of hydrogel-based scaffolds together.

Dr. Federica Re
Dr. Elisa Borsani
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-anonymized 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

  • hydrogel-based scaffolds
  • resorbable scaffolds
  • synthesis of biomaterials
  • mesenchymal stromal cells
  • bioengineered models
  • bone regeneration
  • cartilage regeneration
  • skin regeneration

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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24 pages, 23546 KB  
Article
Tendon dECM Composited with Chitosan with Loading Skin Precursor Stem Cell Exosome for Enhanced Diabetic Wound Healing
by Yunguang Chen, Yingying Liang, Yaling Deng and Lei Nie
Gels 2026, 12(5), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050361 - 26 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Diabetic wounds are a common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by delayed healing due to persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and cellular dysfunction. Conventional therapeutic approaches remain limited in efficacy. In recent years, exosomes have attracted considerable attention in wound healing and [...] Read more.
Diabetic wounds are a common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by delayed healing due to persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and cellular dysfunction. Conventional therapeutic approaches remain limited in efficacy. In recent years, exosomes have attracted considerable attention in wound healing and regenerative medicine because of their crucial role in intercellular communication and tissue repair. However, rapid clearance of exosomes in vivo greatly limits their therapeutic efficacy. To address this critical limitation, we engineered a decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-based hydrogel system functionalized with exosomes derived from skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs). This biomimetic scaffold was designed to serve as a local exosome-delivery platform at the wound site, with the aim of improving exosome utilization and augmenting their regenerative effects. Comprehensive in vitro characterization demonstrated that the exosome-loaded composite hydrogels exhibited robust pro-angiogenic activity, as evidenced by enhanced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Moreover, the hydrogels displayed significant antibacterial effects against wound-relevant pathogens and potent reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capacity, thereby mitigating oxidative damage. Notably, the composite hydrogels also promoted the phenotypic polarization of macrophages toward the pro-regenerative M2 phenotype. In parallel, in vivo studies using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat wound model confirmed that treatment with the composite hydrogels significantly accelerated wound closure rates compared to control groups. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed enhanced angiogenesis, as evidenced by increased CD31-positive microvessel density, as well as improved collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, and an attenuated local inflammatory microenvironment characterized by reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and elevated M2 macrophage infiltration. Collectively, the SKPs exosome-loaded dECM based composite hydrogels developed in this study represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diabetic wounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds with a Focus on Medical Use (4th Edition))
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Review

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23 pages, 4247 KB  
Review
From Printability to Biofunctionality: 3D-Printed Hydrogel Scaffolds for Multi-Tissue Engineering
by Yufei Zhang, Chenyu Shen, Yuxin Liu, Jinfeng Zhang and Zhangkang Li
Gels 2026, 12(7), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12070585 - 2 Jul 2026
Viewed by 538
Abstract
3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds have emerged as important platforms in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine owing to their extracellular matrix-like three-dimensional hydrated networks, tunable physicochemical properties, and ability to spatially organize cells, bioactive factors, and scaffold architectures. Early studies mainly focused on the printability, [...] Read more.
3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds have emerged as important platforms in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine owing to their extracellular matrix-like three-dimensional hydrated networks, tunable physicochemical properties, and ability to spatially organize cells, bioactive factors, and scaffold architectures. Early studies mainly focused on the printability, shape fidelity, and biocompatibility of hydrogel inks, whereas current research has gradually shifted toward the construction of bioactive scaffolds with tissue-specific functions. Because different tissues exhibit distinct requirements in terms of mechanical properties, cellular microenvironment, vascularization, innervation, degradation behavior, and functional maturation, the design of 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds should comprehensively consider material composition, printing strategy, biofactor delivery, and tissue-specific functional demands. In this review, we focus on the transition from printability to biofunctionality and systematically summarize recent advances in 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds for multi-tissue engineering. Particular emphasis is placed on regenerative applications of 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds in bone, cartilage, vascular, neural, and skin tissue engineering. Finally, we discuss the major challenges associated with 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds and further highlight future directions. This review aims to provide a systematic reference for the functional design and application of 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds in multi-tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds with a Focus on Medical Use (4th Edition))
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36 pages, 5413 KB  
Review
Multifunctional Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds: Integrating Conductive Nanomaterials for Smart Wound Healing Applications
by Myoung Joon Jeon, Youjin Seol, Youjin Jeong, Sayan Deb Dutta and Ki-Taek Lim
Gels 2026, 12(6), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12060501 - 4 Jun 2026
Viewed by 1254
Abstract
Effective wound management remains a critical challenge in modern medicine, requiring a delicate balance among infection control, hemostasis, and tissue regeneration. Biopolymer-based hydrogels have emerged as leading candidates for medical use due to their biocompatibility, moisture-retention capabilities, and structural similarity to the natural [...] Read more.
Effective wound management remains a critical challenge in modern medicine, requiring a delicate balance among infection control, hemostasis, and tissue regeneration. Biopolymer-based hydrogels have emerged as leading candidates for medical use due to their biocompatibility, moisture-retention capabilities, and structural similarity to the natural ECM. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the transition from passive dressings to intelligent, multifunctional hydrogel scaffolds. We first examine the biological mechanisms of wound healing and the fundamental roles of hydrogels in maintaining an optimal microenvironment. Central to this discussion is the integration of conductive materials (including conductive polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, and metal nanoparticles), which empower hydrogels with bio-sensing and electromechanical stimulation capabilities. Furthermore, we explore how 3D printing technologies enable the fabrication of personalized, high-precision scaffolds. The review also discusses the emerging role of integrated monitoring systems and machine learning algorithms in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. By synthesizing current research, this review identifies critical engineering hurdles and outlines the future trajectory toward automated, closed-loop wound-care systems in clinical practice. Ultimately, while these advanced electronic scaffolds offer revolutionary therapeutic paradigms, this review underscores that balancing electroconductivity with chronic cytocompatibility, refining multi-modal biosensor calibration, and navigating complex regulatory evaluation pathways remain critical prerequisites. Overcoming these fundamental translational bottlenecks is essential to realizing the next generation of automated clinical wound care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds with a Focus on Medical Use (4th Edition))
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