Antibacterial Hydrogels: Properties and Applications
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 December 2025 | Viewed by 84
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bioactivity of natural and bioinspired compounds; plant extracts; polyphenols; skin health; topical delivery; hydrogels development; topical PDT; antibacterial activity; phototoxicity; photobiology; biotechnological applications
Interests: bioactive peptides; peptide based therapeutics; wound healing; hydrogel; skin infections; topical treatments; diabetic foot ulcers
Interests: anti-infective agents; antimicrobial peptides; antiparasitic drugs; drug rescuing and repurposing; peptide-grafted materials; peptide synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Despite the groundbreaking discovery of antibiotics during the 20th century, their incessant use, deficient waste management, and environmental transmission have led to a concerning increase in antimicrobial resistance. This scenario represents one of the most critical public healthcare challenges to have been face in recent and upcoming decades, with an urgent need of developing innovative strategies that can effectively address bacterial infections.
In this context, antibacterial hydrogels have gained significant attention as promising solutions, given their overall good biocompatibility, low toxicity, availability, viscoelasticity, and biodegradability. The 3D framework created by their gel-like structure allows for sustained drug release, ensuring localized and controlled delivery of antimicrobial agents. Application of antibacterial hydrogels covers a broad range of areas and continues to expand. In the medical field, for instance, they have been explored in wound healing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems. Beyond healthcare, water purification, food packaging, and environmental protection can also take advantage of these materials to mitigate contamination and ensure safety.
This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring up-to-date advances in the field of antibacterial hydrogels, with emphasis on development of novel formulations, characterization and assessment of their antibacterial efficacy, and their translational potential into real-world applications. We expect to provide a holistic overview of the state-of-the-art research regarding antibacterial hydrogels and identify emerging trends and future research prospects.
We encourage leading researchers and experts in the field to contribute to this Special Issue with their recent work, either in the form of original research articles, reviews, and/or case studies. We believe the insights shared in this Special Issue will foster further innovation and represent a step forward in the path towards the development of effective solutions to tackle bacterial infections efficiently.
Dr. Patrícia Correia
Dr. Ana Sofia Martins Gomes
Dr. Paula A. C. Gomes
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
- antimicrobial properties
- hydrogel matrix
- 3D framework
- wound healing
- controlled release
- biomaterials
- hydrogel dressings
- drug delivery
- translational applications
- tissue engineering
- 3D printing
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