Bioadaptive and Self-Evolving Gel Systems for Next-Generation Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The field of gel science is entering a transformative era, moving beyond static and stimuli-responsive systems toward the development of bioadaptive, self-regulating, and evolving gel platforms. These exhibit so-called lifelike behaviors—modulating properties in response to real-time stimuli, signals. Hence, the Issue will also examine engineering strategies for achieving tunable mechanics, dynamic porosity, and multi-functionality in hydrogel constructs, with an emphasis on sustainability and scalability.

Unlike conventional gels that respond passively to a single stimulus, living gels integrate feedback mechanisms, multi-responsive architectures, and even biosensing or computational intelligence, allowing them to adapt dynamically and autonomously. This paradigm represents a fusion of soft matter physics, materials chemistry, biological engineering, and machine learning, opening new avenues for innovation in sectors such as regenerative medicine, neural engineering and bioelectronics, soft robotic interfaces and precision drug delivery.  This Special Issue will focus on the conceptual design, synthesis, characterization, and application of living gel systems across biomedical, technological, and ecological domains. It encourages submissions exploring (but not limited to) the following areas:

• Biohybrid gels that incorporate living cells, organoids, or enzymes for adaptive behavior.
• AI-integrated gels with feedback control systems for real-time modulation.
• Self-healing and reprogrammable hydrogels capable of morphological evolution.
• Regenerative gels that promote and maintain homeostatic micro-environmental signals for tissue growth.
• Smart gels that simulate tissue healing phases, sense infection, or integrate with bioelectronics.

Key Topics to Cover (But not limited to)

• Self-evolving hydrogels with feedback loops;
• Gels with embedded biosensors or AI-responsive elements;
• Biohybrid gels integrating living cells or organoids;
• Gels for dynamic tissue scaffolding and wound healing;
• Regenerative gels that adapt to intercellular stimuli;
• Programmable gel systems for drug delivery or diagnostics;
• Gel–microbiome interactions and responsive behavior.

Dr. Jeevithan Elango
Prof. Dr. Wenhui Wu
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.

• self-evolving hydrogels
• gel-based biosensors
• biohybrid gels
• tissue scaffolding and regeneration
• regenerative gels
• programmable gel systems
• drug delivery
• biodegradable gel systems
• nanocomposite gels
• smart stimuli-responsive hydrogels