Bio-Integrated Smart Hydrogels: Self-Assembled Matrices with Fluorescent Moiety for Diagnostics and Therapy
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Chemistry and Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editors
Interests: antimicrobial peptides (amps); membrane disruption mechanisms; supramolecular hydrogels; synergistic antimicrobial therapy; multidrug resistance
Interests: peptide synthesis; non-proteinogenic amino acids; self-assembly; drug delivery; medical imaging; theranostic platforms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Self-assembling peptide and polymer hydrogels represent a frontier in biomaterial science, leveraging supramolecular interactions to create precisely ordered nanostructures with exceptional biocompatibility, tunable mechanics, and inherent bioactivity. These dynamic materials mimic the extracellular matrix, offering ideal platforms for 3D cell culture, tissue engineering scaffolds, and minimally invasive delivery of therapeutics. Concurrently, the integration of fluorescence-responsive moieties within hydrogel networks has unlocked transformative capabilities in real-time biosensing, drug release monitoring, and non-invasive diagnostics. Such hydrogels provide spatiotemporal resolution of physiological changes (e.g., pH, enzyme activity, or metabolite levels), enabling theranostic platforms that combine treatment with in situ feedback. This Special Issue seeks cutting-edge research at the convergence of these domains, highlighting innovations in the following aspects:
- Predictable self-assembly of peptides/polymers for hierarchical biomaterials;
- Multifunctional biomedical hydrogels for regenerative medicine, targeted drug delivery, and biofabrication;
- Stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogels with optical reporting for diagnostics and closed-loop therapy.
We invite contributions exploring molecular design, mechanistic studies, advanced characterization, and translational applications that advance the rational development of intelligent hydrogel systems for precision medicine.
Dr. Mingrui Liao
Dr. Paula M. T. Ferreira
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- self-assembling hydrogels
- fluorescence-responsive materials
- stimuli-responsiveness
- theranostics
- biomedical applications
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