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Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition)
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Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2024 | Viewed by 8075

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jun Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Interests: hydrogels; colloids and interfaces; 3D printing; surface forces
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels have been used for producing contact lenses, flexible sensors and actuators, adhesives, wound dressings, and hygiene products and are critical to achieving the controlled release of bioactive molecules. The synthesis and application of hydrogels have received increasing attention across a number of disciplines over the past twenty years. We have seen increasing publications in hydrogel research, and the scientific field is evolving rapidly. For example, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting using cell-loaded hydrogel composites has been one of the emerging topics for realizing artificial organs in biomedical research. The significant point of synthesizing a hydrogel is that the obtained gel should have reasonable mechanical and electrical properties and form effective interfacial connections with various substrates. Double- or even triple-network hydrogels have been fabricated to overcome the drawbacks of weak mechanical properties and low interfacial toughness. Additionally, mechanical training, salt precipitation, and the application of electric or magnetic fields have also been applied to hydrogel synthesis to achieve the desired properties. Challenges remain for commercialization, although a number of hydrogel-related patents are filed each year.

This Special Issue aims to report the most recent research and advances in hydrogel synthesis and applications, such as sensors and actuators, adhesives, 3D printing, etc. Research on new methodologies, mechanism studies, and the modeling of hydrogels are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Jun Huang
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 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.

Keywords

  • biomaterials
  • sensors and actuators
  • adhesives
  • flexible electronics
  • 3D printing
  • drug delivery
  • network

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5030 KiB  
Article
Physically Crosslinked Poly(methacrylic acid)/Gelatin Hydrogels with Excellent Fatigue Resistance and Shape Memory Properties
by Vukasin Ugrinovic, Maja Markovic, Bojan Bozic, Vesna Panic and Djordje Veljovic
Gels 2024, 10(7), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10070444 - 4 Jul 2024
Viewed by 659
Abstract
Hydrogels endure various dynamic stresses, demanding robust mechanical properties. Despite significant advancements, matching hydrogels’ strength to biological tissues and plastics is often challenging without applying potentially harmful crosslinkers. Using hydrogen bonds as sacrificial bonds offers a promising strategy to produce tough, versatile hydrogels [...] Read more.
Hydrogels endure various dynamic stresses, demanding robust mechanical properties. Despite significant advancements, matching hydrogels’ strength to biological tissues and plastics is often challenging without applying potentially harmful crosslinkers. Using hydrogen bonds as sacrificial bonds offers a promising strategy to produce tough, versatile hydrogels for biomedical and industrial applications. Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA)/gelatin hydrogels were synthesized by thermally induced free-radical polymerization and crosslinked only by physical bonds, without adding any chemical crosslinker. The addition of gelatin increased the formation of hydrophobic domains in the structure of the hydrogels, which acted as permanent crosslinking points. The increase in PMA and gelatin contents generally led to a lower equilibrium water content (WC), higher thermal stability and better mechanical properties. The values of tensile strength and toughness reached up to 1.44 ± 0.17 MPa and 4.91 ± 0.51 MJ m−3, respectively, while the compressive modulus and strength reached up to 0.75 ± 0.06 MPa and 24.81 ± 5.85 MPa, respectively, with the WC being higher than 50 wt.%. The obtained values for compressive mechanical properties are comparable with super-strong hydrogels reported in the literature. In addition, hydrogels exhibited excellent fatigue resistance and biocompatibility, as well as great shape memory properties, which make them prominent candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 3676 KiB  
Article
Fluoride-Ion-Responsive Sol–Gel Transition in an L-Cysteine/AgNO3 System: Self-Assembly Peculiarities and Anticancer Activity
by Dmitry V. Vishnevetskii, Yana V. Andrianova, Elizaveta E. Polyakova, Alexandra I. Ivanova and Arif R. Mekhtiev
Gels 2024, 10(5), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10050332 - 14 May 2024
Viewed by 957
Abstract
Supramolecular hydrogels based on low-molecular-weight compounds are a unique class of so-called “soft” materials, formed by weak non-covalent interactions between precursors at their millimolar concentrations. Due to the variety of structures that can be formed using different low-molecular-weight gelators, they are widely used [...] Read more.
Supramolecular hydrogels based on low-molecular-weight compounds are a unique class of so-called “soft” materials, formed by weak non-covalent interactions between precursors at their millimolar concentrations. Due to the variety of structures that can be formed using different low-molecular-weight gelators, they are widely used in various fields of technology and medicine. In this study, we report for the first time an unusual self-assembly process of mixing a hydrosol obtained from L-cysteine and silver nitrate (cysteine–silver sol—CSS) with sodium halides. Modern instrumental techniques such as viscosimetry, UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, SEM and EDS identified that adding fluoride anions to CSS is able to form stable hydrogels of a thixotropic nature, while Cl−, Br− and I− lead to precipitation. The self-assembly process proceeds using a narrow concentration range of F−. An increase in the fluoride anion content in the system leads to a change in the gel network morphology from elongated structures to spherical ones. This fact is reflected in a decrease in the gel viscosity and a number of gel–sol–gel transition cycles. The mechanism of F−’s interaction with hydrosol includes the condensation of anions on the positive surface of the CSS nanoparticles, their binding via electrostatic forces and the formation of a resulting gel carcass. In vitro analysis showed that the hydrogels suppressed human squamous carcinoma cells at a micromolar sample concentration. The obtained soft gels could have potential applications against cutaneous malignancy and as carriers for fluoride anion and other bioactive substance delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition))
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12 pages, 2537 KiB  
Article
Cysteine–Silver–Polymer Systems for the Preparation of Hydrogels and Films with Potential Applications in Regenerative Medicine
by Dmitry V. Vishnevetskii, Arif R. Mekhtiev, Dmitry V. Averkin and Elizaveta E. Polyakova
Gels 2023, 9(12), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9120924 - 23 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1297
Abstract
Herein, the problem concerning the poorer mechanical properties of gels based on low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs)—L-cysteine and silver nitrate—was solved by the addition of various polymers—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)—to the initial cysteine–silver sol (CSS). The physicochemical [...] Read more.
Herein, the problem concerning the poorer mechanical properties of gels based on low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs)—L-cysteine and silver nitrate—was solved by the addition of various polymers—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)—to the initial cysteine–silver sol (CSS). The physicochemical methods of analysis—viscosimetry, UV spectroscopy, DLS, and SEM—identified that cysteine–silver hydrogels (CSG) based on PVA possess the best rheological properties and porous microstructure (the average pore size is 2–10 µm) compared to gels without the polymer or with PVP or PEG. Such gels are able to form cysteine–silver cryogels (CSC) and then porous cysteine–silver films (CSF) with an average pore size of 10–20 µm and good mechanical, swelling, and adhesion to skin characteristics as long as the structure of CSS particles remains stable. In vitro experiments have shown that hydrogels are non-toxic to normal human fibroblast cells. The obtained materials could potentially be applied to regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition))
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Review

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27 pages, 14223 KiB  
Review
Antibacterial Hydrogels for Wound Dressing Applications: Current Status, Progress, Challenges, and Trends
by Jie Zhu, Hongju Cheng, Zixian Zhang, Kaikai Chen, Qinchen Zhang, Chen Zhang, Weihong Gao and Yuansheng Zheng
Gels 2024, 10(8), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10080495 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Bacterial infection treatment for chronic wounds has posed a major medical threat and challenge. Bacteria at the wounded sites can compete with the immune system and subsequently invade live tissues, leading to more severe tissue damage. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for [...] Read more.
Bacterial infection treatment for chronic wounds has posed a major medical threat and challenge. Bacteria at the wounded sites can compete with the immune system and subsequently invade live tissues, leading to more severe tissue damage. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for wound dressings with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Considering the concept of moist healing, hydrogels with a three-dimensional (3D) network structure are widely used as wound dressings due to their excellent hydrophilicity, water retention properties, and biocompatibility. Developing antibacterial hydrogels for the treatment of infected wounds has been receiving extensive attention recently. This article categorizes antibacterial hydrogels according to their materials and antibacterial modes, and introduces the recent findings and progress regarding their status. More importantly, with the development of emerging technologies, new therapies are utilized to prepare antibacterial hydrogels such as nanoenzymes, photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and other external stimuli-responsive methods. Therefore, this review also examines their progress, challenges, and future trends as wound dressings. In the following studies, there will still be a focus on antibacterial hydrogels that have a high performance, multi-functions, and intelligence, especially biocompatibility, a high and long-lasting antibacterial property, responsiveness, and on-demand therapeutic ability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition))
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31 pages, 5162 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in the Development of Biomimetic Materials
by Maria G. Ciulla, Alessio Massironi, Michela Sugni, Matthew A. Ensign, Stefania Marzorati and Mahdi Forouharshad
Gels 2023, 9(10), 833; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9100833 - 20 Oct 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4143
Abstract
In this review, we focused on recent efforts in the design and development of materials with biomimetic properties. Innovative methods promise to emulate cell microenvironments and tissue functions, but many aspects regarding cellular communication, motility, and responsiveness remain to be explained. We photographed [...] Read more.
In this review, we focused on recent efforts in the design and development of materials with biomimetic properties. Innovative methods promise to emulate cell microenvironments and tissue functions, but many aspects regarding cellular communication, motility, and responsiveness remain to be explained. We photographed the state-of-the-art advancements in biomimetics, and discussed the complexity of a “bottom-up” artificial construction of living systems, with particular highlights on hydrogels, collagen-based composites, surface modifications, and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting applications. Fast-paced 3D printing and artificial intelligence, nevertheless, collide with reality: How difficult can it be to build reproducible biomimetic materials at a real scale in line with the complexity of living systems? Nowadays, science is in urgent need of bioengineering technologies for the practical use of bioinspired and biomimetics for medicine and clinics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels (2nd Edition))
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