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Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition)
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Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 7858

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dongrim Seol

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Interests: hydrogel; tissue regeneration; osteoarthritis; exosome; intervertebral disc degeneration; arthrofibrosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are grateful to all authors, reviewers, and readers for their responses to the first edition of “Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration”. You can access these articles at no cost via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/gels/special_issues/JW3AK7GIB9

Hydrogels have most commonly been used as a scaffold for tissue regeneration due to their potential to stimulate the construction of an extracellular matrix via a distinct three-dimensional structure and to deliver drugs, stem/progenitor cells, and extracellular vesicles/exosomes. This Special Issue, entitled “Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition)”, aims to collect high-quality research and review articles in all fields of gel materials, with a focus on the application of tissue regeneration and engineering. Since the aim of this Special Issue is to illustrate selected works and advances in research into hydrogel materials science, we encourage materials scientists, chemists, or clinical investigators to contribute papers reflecting the latest progress in their research fields. As Guest Editors, we kindly invite you to contribute a research or review paper on any topic related to this Special Issue, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • New development and characterization of hydrogels;
  • Tissue regeneration/engineering;
  • Delivery of stem/progenitor cells, drugs, RNA, DNA, gene, and extracellular vesicles/exosomes;
  • Three-dimensional printing, electrospinning, and molding-based injectable gels.

Dr. Dongrim Seol
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

  • hydrogel
  • tissue regeneration/engineering
  • stem/progenitor cells
  • drugs
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • gene
  • extracellular vesicles/exosomes
  • 3D printing
  • electrospinning
  • molding-based injectable gels

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 9573 KiB  
Article
Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Release of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 from Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration
by Tyus J. Yeingst, Angelica M. Helton, Ferdousi S. Rawnaque, Julien H. Arrizabalaga, Dino J. Ravnic, Julianna C. Simon and Daniel J. Hayes
Gels 2025, 11(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11020120 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 982
Abstract
An ultrasound-responsive hydrogel system was developed that provides on-demand release when stimulated by focused ultrasound (fUS). Diels–Alder cycloadducts crosslinked polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels and underwent a retrograde Diels–Alder reaction when exposed to fUS. Four-arm and eight-arm furan-based Diels–Alder hydrogel compositions were used to [...] Read more.
An ultrasound-responsive hydrogel system was developed that provides on-demand release when stimulated by focused ultrasound (fUS). Diels–Alder cycloadducts crosslinked polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels and underwent a retrograde Diels–Alder reaction when exposed to fUS. Four-arm and eight-arm furan-based Diels–Alder hydrogel compositions were used to evaluate the link between the crosslinking density and the fUS-induced release and retention rates. PEG crosslinked with glutaraldehyde was also used as a non-Diels–Alder control hydrogel. By increasing the exposure time and the amplitude of fUS, the Diels–Alder-based hydrogels exhibited a correlative increase in the release of the entrapped BMP-2. Real-time B-mode imaging was used during fUS to visualize the on-demand degradation of the crosslinking matrix for the release of BMP-2. When monitored with a thermocouple, the increase in temperature observed was minimal in the area surrounding the sample during fUS stimulation, indicating fUS to be an external stimulus which could be used safely for spatiotemporally controlled release. PEG hydrogels were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and compression testing. PEG degradation byproducts were evaluated for cytocompatibility in vitro. Overall, this study demonstrated that Diels–Alder-based PEG hydrogels can encapsulate BMP-2, undergo a retrograde reaction when externally stimulated with fUS, and release active BMP-2 to induce differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition))
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12 pages, 3505 KiB  
Article
Stomatitis Healing via Hydrogels Comprising Proline, Carboxyvinyl Polymer, and Water
by Raichi Hanaki, Koji Harada, Yoshihiro Sasaki, Michiaki Matsumoto and Yoshiro Tahara
Gels 2025, 11(2), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11020108 - 3 Feb 2025
Viewed by 767
Abstract
Chemotherapy using anticancer agents and radiotherapy of cancers frequently induce the development of stomatitis as a side effect. In the present study, hydrogels for effective stomatitis healing under anticancer drug administration were developed using three components, namely proline, carboxyvinyl polymer, and water (denoted [...] Read more.
Chemotherapy using anticancer agents and radiotherapy of cancers frequently induce the development of stomatitis as a side effect. In the present study, hydrogels for effective stomatitis healing under anticancer drug administration were developed using three components, namely proline, carboxyvinyl polymer, and water (denoted proline gels). Characterization including tilting, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and viscoelasticity measurements indicated that proline gels with proline concentrations over 300 μmol/g could retain water on the tongue of mice. The degradation and release behavior of proline gels in serological environments were evaluated, revealing that proline gels were degraded by serological salt concentrations, and the cumulative amount of proline released from proline gels depended on the concentration of proline in the gel. Proline gels were applied to the stomatitis area on the tongue of mice under anticancer drug administration, with subsequent reduction in the stomatitis area and regeneration of the mucosal epithelium layer, demonstrating effective stomatitis healing by proline gels with proline concentrations over 500 μmol/g. Other control samples including the carboxyvinyl polymer or proline alone did not reduce the stomatitis area in model mice. These results suggested that the proline gel is promising for the mucosa regeneration of anticancer drug-induced stomatitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition))
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Graphical abstract

19 pages, 14432 KiB  
Article
Thermosensitive Porcine Myocardial Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Coupled with Proanthocyanidins for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
by José Luis Hidalgo-Vicelis, Angélica Raquel Rivera-Contreras, Beatriz Hernández-Téllez, Gabriela Piñón-Zárate, Katia Jarquín-Yáñez, Tatiana Fiordelisio-Coll, José Manuel Saniger-Blesa, Gertrudis Hortensia González-Gómez, María Alicia Falcón-Neri, María Margarita Canales-Martínez and Andrés Eliú Castell-Rodríguez
Gels 2025, 11(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010053 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1035
Abstract
Currently, there are no therapies that prevent the negative myocardial remodeling process that occurs after a heart attack. Injectable hydrogels are a treatment option because they may replace the damaged extracellular matrix and, in addition, can be administered minimally invasively. Reactive oxygen species [...] Read more.
Currently, there are no therapies that prevent the negative myocardial remodeling process that occurs after a heart attack. Injectable hydrogels are a treatment option because they may replace the damaged extracellular matrix and, in addition, can be administered minimally invasively. Reactive oxygen species generated by ischemia-reperfusion damage can limit the therapeutic efficacy of injectable hydrogels. In order to overcome this limitation, grape seed proanthocyanidins were incorporated as antioxidant compounds into a thermosensitive myocardial extracellular matrix hydrogel in this study. For the fabrication of the hydrogel, the extracellular matrix obtained by decellularization of porcine myocardium was solubilized through enzymatic digestion, and the proanthocyanidins were incorporated. After exposing this extracellular matrix solution to 37 °C, it self-assembled into a hydrogel with a porous structure. According to the physicochemical and biological evaluation, the coupling of proanthocyanidins in the hydrogel has a positive effect on the antioxidant capacity, gelation kinetics, in vitro degradation, and cardiomyocyte viability, indicating that the hydrogel coupled with this type of antioxidants represents a promising alternative for potential application in post-infarction myocardial regeneration. Furthermore, this study proposes the best concentrations of proanthocyanidins that resulted in the hydrogels for future studies in cardiac tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition))
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17 pages, 5375 KiB  
Article
Tunable Alginate-Polyvinyl Alcohol Bioinks for 3D Printing in Cartilage Tissue Engineering
by Alexandra Hunter Aitchison, Nicholas B. Allen, Kishen Mitra, Bijan Abar, Conor N. O’Neill, Kian Bagheri, Albert T. Anastasio and Samuel B. Adams
Gels 2024, 10(12), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120829 - 14 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1340
Abstract
This study investigates 3D extrusion bioinks for cartilage tissue engineering by characterizing the physical properties of 3D-printed scaffolds containing varying alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentrations. We systematically investigated the effects of increasing PVA and alginate concentrations on swelling, degradation, and the elastic [...] Read more.
This study investigates 3D extrusion bioinks for cartilage tissue engineering by characterizing the physical properties of 3D-printed scaffolds containing varying alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentrations. We systematically investigated the effects of increasing PVA and alginate concentrations on swelling, degradation, and the elastic modulus of printed hydrogels. Swelling decreased significantly with increased PVA concentrations, while degradation rates rose with higher PVA concentrations, underscoring the role of PVA in modulating hydrogel matrix stability. The highest elastic modulus value was achieved with a composite of 5% PVA and 20% alginate, reaching 0.22 MPa, which approaches that of native cartilage. These findings demonstrate that adjusting PVA and alginate concentrations enables the development of bioinks with tailored physical and mechanical properties, supporting their potential use in cartilage tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition))
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Review

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31 pages, 9924 KiB  
Review
Hyaluronic Acid-Based Dynamic Hydrogels for Cartilage Repair and Regeneration
by Mingshuo Zhang, Qianwen Ye, Zebo Zhu, Shuanglian Shi, Chunming Xu, Renjian Xie and Yumei Li
Gels 2024, 10(11), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10110703 - 30 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3111
Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA), an important natural polysaccharide and meanwhile, an essential component of extracellular matrix (ECM), has been widely used in tissue repair and regeneration due to its high biocompatibility, biodegradation, and bioactivity, and the versatile chemical groups for modification. Specially, HA-based dynamic [...] Read more.
Hyaluronic acid (HA), an important natural polysaccharide and meanwhile, an essential component of extracellular matrix (ECM), has been widely used in tissue repair and regeneration due to its high biocompatibility, biodegradation, and bioactivity, and the versatile chemical groups for modification. Specially, HA-based dynamic hydrogels, compared with the conventional hydrogels, offer an adaptable network and biomimetic microenvironment to optimize tissue repair and the regeneration process with a striking resemblance to ECM. Herein, this review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances of HA-based dynamic hydrogels and focuses on their applications in articular cartilage repair. First, the fabrication methods and advantages of HA dynamic hydrogels are presented. Then, the applications of HA dynamic hydrogels in cartilage repair are illustrated from the perspective of cell-free and cell-encapsulated and/or bioactive molecules (drugs, factors, and ions). Finally, the current challenges and prospective directions are outlined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel for Tissue Regeneration (2nd Edition))
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