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Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications
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Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 7021

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Magdalena Łabowska

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanics, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-372 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: additive manufacturing; controlled drug delivery system; biopolymers; hydrogels; bioresponsive hydrogels; physico-chemical properties of hydrogels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Detyna

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanics, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-372 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: biomaterials; biomechanics; biophysics; agrophysics; physical properties of soft tissues; biocybernetics; designing experiments; statistical methods in quality control; mathematical methods in bioengineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Patrycja Szymczyk-Ziółkowska

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Guest Editor
Department of Laser Technology, Automation and Production Organization, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: additive manufacturing; biomechanics; bioengineering; materials science; materials characterization; biomaterials; titanium alloys; surface modifications; biopolymers; hydrogels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications” is dedicated to highlighting the latest advancements and breakthroughs in alginate-based hydrogel processing, their characterization and utilization across various fields of bioengineering, fostering collaboration, and inspiring further innovation in this area of research.

Hydrogels based on alginate are a flexible biomaterial known for their unique properties and wide range of applications. This polysaccharide, extracted mainly from brown seaweed, has excellent biocompatibility and can be used in a variety of biomedical areas, involving wound healing, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems. Furthermore, because of its ability to change its characteristics in response to external stimuli, it is also successfully employed in the development of sensors or research on artificial muscles that react to changes in the environmental factors. Its adjustable mechanical properties and ability to mimic extracellular matrices allow it to adapt to specific tissue requirements. Nevertheless, alginate-based hydrogels can have various characteristics depending on the processing method, which could have an impact on their application. Research on the degree of gelation, viscosity, elasticity, water absorption capacity, and mechanical characteristics is also crucial in this regard. The versatility and adaptability of alginate-based hydrogels make them promising materials for a wide range of biomedical and technological applications.

We look forward to the submission of new results that will contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this area. Both theoretical and experimental studies exploring these aspects are encouraged for submission. 

Dr. Magdalena Łabowska
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Detyna
Dr. Patrycja Szymczyk-Ziółkowska
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.

Keywords

  • alginate hydrogel
  • smart hydrogels
  • bioresponsive hydrogels
  • processing of hydrogels
  • material properties
  • bioengineering applications
  • biomedical applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3687 KiB  
Article
Towards a Comprehensive Framework for Made-to-Measure Alginate Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Using Numerical Simulation
by Alexander Bäumchen, Johnn Majd Balsters, Beate-Sophie Nenninger, Stefan Diebels, Heiko Zimmermann, Michael Roland and Michael M. Gepp
Gels 2025, 11(3), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030185 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 728
Abstract
Alginate hydrogels are integral to many cell-based models in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. As a natural biomaterial, the properties of alginates can vary and be widely adjusted through the gelation process, making them versatile additives or bulk materials for scaffolds, microcarriers or [...] Read more.
Alginate hydrogels are integral to many cell-based models in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. As a natural biomaterial, the properties of alginates can vary and be widely adjusted through the gelation process, making them versatile additives or bulk materials for scaffolds, microcarriers or encapsulation matrices in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The requirements for alginates used in biomedical applications differ significantly from those for technical applications. Particularly, the generation of novel niches for stem cells requires reliable and predictable properties of the resulting hydrogel. Ultra-high viscosity (UHV) alginates possess alginates with special physicochemical properties, and thus far, numerical simulations for the gelation process are currently lacking but highly relevant for future designs of stem cell niches and cell-based models. In this article, the gelation of UHV alginates is studied using a microscopic approach for disc- and sphere-shaped hydrogels. Based on the collected data, a multiphase continuum model was implemented to describe the cross-linking process of UHV alginate polysaccharides. The model utilizes four coupled kinetic equations based on mixture theory, which are solved using finite element software. A good agreement between simulation results and experimental data was found, establishing a foundation for future refinements in the development of an interactive tool for cell biologists and material scientists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications)
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20 pages, 3395 KiB  
Article
Innovative Ink-Based 3D Hydrogel Bioprinted Formulations for Tissue Engineering Applications
by Ana Catarina Sousa, Grace Mcdermott, Fraser Shields, Rui Alvites, Bruna Lopes, Patrícia Sousa, Alícia Moreira, André Coelho, José Domingos Santos, Luís Atayde, Nuno Alves, Stephen M. Richardson, Marco Domingos and Ana Colette Maurício
Gels 2024, 10(12), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120831 - 17 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1378
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) models with improved biomimicry are essential to reduce animal experimentation and drive innovation in tissue engineering. In this study, we investigate the use of alginate-based materials as polymeric inks for 3D bioprinting of osteogenic models using human bone marrow stem/stromal cells [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) models with improved biomimicry are essential to reduce animal experimentation and drive innovation in tissue engineering. In this study, we investigate the use of alginate-based materials as polymeric inks for 3D bioprinting of osteogenic models using human bone marrow stem/stromal cells (hBMSCs). A composite bioink incorporating alginate, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), type I collagen (Col) and hBMSCs was developed and for extrusion-based printing. Rheological tests performed on crosslinked hydrogels confirm the formation of solid-like structures, consistently indicating a superior storage modulus in relation to the loss modulus. The swelling behavior analysis showed that the addition of Col and nHA into an alginate matrix can enhance the swelling rate of the resulting composite hydrogels, which maximizes cell proliferation within the structure. The LIVE/DEAD assay outcomes demonstrate that the inclusion of nHA and Col did not detrimentally affect the viability of hBMSCs over seven days post-printing. PrestoBlueTM revealed a higher hBMSCs viability in the alginate-nHA-Col hydrogel compared to the remaining groups. Gene expression analysis revealed that alginate-nHA-col bioink favored a higher expression of osteogenic markers, including secreted phosphoprotein-1 (SPP1) and collagen type 1 alpha 2 chain (COL1A2) in hBMSCs after 14 days, indicating the pro-osteogenic differentiation potential of the hydrogel. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of nHA and Col into alginate enhances osteogenic potential and therefore provides a bioprinted model to systematically study osteogenesis and the early stages of tissue maturation in vitro. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications)
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16 pages, 2283 KiB  
Article
ISO 10993-4 Compliant Hemocompatibility Evaluation of Gellan Gum Hybrid Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
by Mthabisi Talent George Moyo, Terin Adali and Oğuz Han Edebal
Gels 2024, 10(12), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120824 - 13 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1164
Abstract
This study examines the hemocompatibility of gellan-gum-based hybrid hydrogels, with varying gellan-gum concentrations and constant sodium alginate and silk fibroin concentrations, respectively, in accordance with ISO 10993-4 standards. While previous studies have focused on cytocompatibility, the hemocompatibility of these hydrogels remains underexplored. Hydrogels [...] Read more.
This study examines the hemocompatibility of gellan-gum-based hybrid hydrogels, with varying gellan-gum concentrations and constant sodium alginate and silk fibroin concentrations, respectively, in accordance with ISO 10993-4 standards. While previous studies have focused on cytocompatibility, the hemocompatibility of these hydrogels remains underexplored. Hydrogels were formulated with 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% gellan gum combined with 3% silk fibroin and 4.2% sodium alginate separately, using physical and ionic cross-linking. Swelling behavior was analyzed in phosphate (pH 7.4) and acetic (pH 1.2) buffers and surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hemocompatibility tests included complete blood count (CBC), coagulation assays, hemolysis index, erythrocyte morphology, and platelet adhesion analysis. Results showed that gellan gum–sodium alginate hydrogels exhibited faster swelling than gellan gum–silk fibroin formulations. SEM indicated smoother surfaces with sodium alginate, while silk fibroin increased roughness, further amplified by higher gellan-gum concentrations. Hemocompatibility assays confirmed normal profiles in formulations with 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.75% gellan gum, while 1% gellan gum caused significant hemolytic and thrombogenic activity. These findings highlight the excellent hemocompatibility of gellan-gum-based hydrogels, especially the sodium alginate variants, supporting their potential in bioengineering, tissue engineering, and blood-contacting biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications)
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Review

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15 pages, 1410 KiB  
Review
Progress in Research on Metal Ion Crosslinking Alginate-Based Gels
by Yantao Wang, Zhenpeng Shen, Huili Wang, Zhaoping Song, Dehai Yu, Guodong Li, Xiaona Liu and Wenxia Liu
Gels 2025, 11(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010016 - 27 Dec 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3109
Abstract
Alginate is an important natural biopolymer and metal ion-induced gelation is one of its most significant functional properties. Alginate-based hydrogels crosslinked with metal ions are commonly utilized in the food, biomedical, tissue engineering, and environment fields. The process of metal ion-induced alginate gelation [...] Read more.
Alginate is an important natural biopolymer and metal ion-induced gelation is one of its most significant functional properties. Alginate-based hydrogels crosslinked with metal ions are commonly utilized in the food, biomedical, tissue engineering, and environment fields. The process of metal ion-induced alginate gelation has been the subject of thorough research over the last few decades. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms of alginate hydrogels induced by different cations (primarily including Ca2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Sr2+, Fe2+/Fe3+, and Al3+). Metal ion-induced alginate gelation shows different preferences for α-L-guluronic acid (G), β-D-mannuronic acid (M), and GM blocks. Some metal ions can also selectively bind to the carboxyl groups of guluronic acid. The properties and applications of these alginate-based hydrogels are also discussed. The primary objective of this review is to provide useful information for exploring the practical applications of alginate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Alginate Hydrogels in Bioengineering Applications)
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