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Gels
Special Issues
Advanced Functional Gels: Design, Properties, and Applications
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Advanced Functional Gels: Design, Properties, and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 2014

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lorena García-Uriostegiui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
SECIHTI-Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación-Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Mexico
Interests: hybrid stimuli-responsive hydrogels; mesoporous silica; biomaterials; controlled release
Dr. Héctor Iván Meléndez Ortíz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación-Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada, Saltillo 25294, Mexico
Interests: nanoparticles; hydrogels; drug delivery; anticancer agent delivery; antibiotic delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gels with advanced functionalities are versatile materials, serving as a bridge between fundamental science and practical applications. Their tunable structures and unique physicochemical properties enable its wide-ranging application in biomedicine, energy storage, soft electronics, environmental remediation, and food science. This Special Issue aims to showcase recent advances in the design, characterization, and application of functional gels, emphasizing how structural innovations translate into enhanced performance.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and communications on various topics including (but not limited to) novel strategies for gel fabrication; stimuli-responsive, hybrid and composite, self-healing, conductive and ionic, and biomimetic gels; and application-driven developments.

Dr. Lorena García-Uriostegiui
Dr. Héctor Iván Meléndez Ortíz
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • functional gels
  • responsive gels
  • hybrid gels
  • composite gels
  • self-healing gels
  • biomimetic gels
  • energy storage
  • biomedicine
  • soft electronics
  • environmental remediation

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3159 KB  
Article
Optimization of Processing Parameters and Application Performance Evaluation of a High Thermal Conductivity, Low Thermal Resistance Gel
by Yuwen Xu, Danni Hong, Liangjun Liu, Wenfei Wang, Minghua Jiang, Haibing Yang, Tingxin Chen and Kun Jia
Gels 2026, 12(4), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040293 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 324
Abstract
Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are essential for addressing heat dissipation challenges in high-performance electronic devices. Among various TIMs, thermal conductive gels exhibit significant potential in high heat flux applications due to their excellent flexibility and superior gap-filling capability. Current research primarily concentrates on [...] Read more.
Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are essential for addressing heat dissipation challenges in high-performance electronic devices. Among various TIMs, thermal conductive gels exhibit significant potential in high heat flux applications due to their excellent flexibility and superior gap-filling capability. Current research primarily concentrates on the fabrication and performance characterization of novel thermal conductive gels, while comparatively little attention has been devoted to the optimization of processing parameters. Furthermore, existing characterization methods often fail to accurately replicate real-world operating conditions, resulting in discrepancies between laboratory measurements and actual performance. An orthogonal experimental design was adopted to systematically elucidate the influence of filler ratio, wetting time, and silicone oil viscosity on the bonding strength of thermal conductive gels. The filler ratio exerts the most significant influence, followed by silicone oil viscosity and wetting time. Subsequently, the thermal conductivity and thermal resistance of both commercial thermal conductive gels and the as-prepared gels were characterized using the steady-state heat flow method and the double-interface method, respectively. Under the optimized preparation conditions (filler ratio of 88%, silicone oil viscosity of 600 cP, and wetting time of 14 h), the self-developed thermal conductive gel exhibits a thermal conductivity of 3.75 W·m−1·K−1 and a bonding strength of 0.248 MPa, outperforming commercial counterparts and demonstrating promising application potential. It was further concluded, through comparisons of curing rheology and long-term reliability evolution with commercial counterparts, that the self-developed thermal conductive gel possesses enhanced stability and reliability. This study provides a practical reference for the development and engineering application of high thermal conductivity, low thermal resistance gels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Gels: Design, Properties, and Applications)
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24 pages, 4277 KB  
Article
Gel-Inspired Trapping Networks: Fe(III)-Activated Palygorskite Nanorod Aggregates for Enhanced Congo Red Sequestration
by Hao Chen and Yufan Song
Gels 2026, 12(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020184 - 22 Feb 2026
Viewed by 433
Abstract
Developing adsorbents that combine high capacity with structural robustness remains a critical challenge for dye wastewater treatment. In this study, we propose a “pollutant-induced gelation” strategy to address this limitation, using Fe(III)-activated palygorskite nanorod aggregates as a model system for the highly efficient [...] Read more.
Developing adsorbents that combine high capacity with structural robustness remains a critical challenge for dye wastewater treatment. In this study, we propose a “pollutant-induced gelation” strategy to address this limitation, using Fe(III)-activated palygorskite nanorod aggregates as a model system for the highly efficient sequestration of Congo red (CR). Unlike conventional modification methods that rely solely on surface functionalization, this approach leverages the adsorbed dye itself as a synergistic assembly promoter. The addition of CR significantly consolidates the Fe(III)-mediated aggregation of palygorskite nanorods, leading to the formation of an integrated three-dimensional porous network with distinct gel-like rheological behavior. This dye-induced gel network not only provides abundant confined spaces for pollutant entrapment but also enhances the structural integrity of the adsorbent, facilitating separation and potential reuse. Compared to pristine palygorskite, the Fe(III)-activated material exhibited a 95.4–277% increase in adsorption capacity across a pH range of 4–10. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Temkin isotherm model, and was thermodynamically spontaneous and exothermic. Mechanistic studies revealed a synergistic interplay: Fe(III) served as primary cross-linking nodes to construct the network framework, while CR molecules acted as inducers to reinforce the gel architecture, enabling strong physical immobilization of dye aggregates. This work provides a new paradigm for designing intelligent, gel-based adsorbents from natural nanoclays, transforming a pollutant into a structural promoter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Gels: Design, Properties, and Applications)
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Review

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20 pages, 1493 KB  
Review
Structure–Property–Function Relationships in Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Brain Organoid Vascularization
by Minju Kim, Hoon Choi, Woo Sub Yang and Hyun Jung Koh
Gels 2026, 12(4), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040287 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 477
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids have emerged as powerful three-dimensional (3D) platforms for modeling human neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. However, the absence of a functional vascular network remains a critical limitation, restricting oxygen and nutrient delivery, impairing metabolic stability, and [...] Read more.
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids have emerged as powerful three-dimensional (3D) platforms for modeling human neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. However, the absence of a functional vascular network remains a critical limitation, restricting oxygen and nutrient delivery, impairing metabolic stability, and constraining long-term maturation. Conventional extracellular matrix (ECM) mimetics, such as Matrigel and other static synthetic hydrogels, provide biochemical support but fail to recapitulate the dynamic remodeling that characterizes the developing neurovascular niche. Recent advances in stimuli-responsive hydrogels offer spatiotemporal control over matrix stiffness, degradability, viscoelasticity, and biochemical cue presentation. In this review, we discuss dynamic hydrogel systems within a structure–property–function framework, highlighting how network chemistry and architecture may regulate endothelial sprouting, lumen formation, vascular stabilization, and neurovascular unit maturation in vascularized brain organoid models, based on evidence from both organoid studies and related biomaterial or vascular systems. Photoresponsive, enzyme-cleavable, thermo-responsive, supramolecular, bio-orthogonal click-based, and bioprinted platforms are discussed with emphasis on mechanotransduction, angiocrine signaling, and barrier specialization. Functional outcomes, including trans-endothelial electrical resistance, selective permeability, transporter expression, electrophysiological integration, and sustained perfusion, are discussed alongside translational challenges such as cytocompatibility, oxidative stress, scalability, and regulatory feasibility. Collectively, dynamic hydrogels provide a versatile biomaterial strategy for improving vascularization and aspects of functional maturation in brain organoid models with enhanced physiological relevance. Ultimately, stimuli-responsive hydrogel systems may serve as enabling platforms for engineering vascularized brain organoids and advancing human-relevant neurovascular disease modeling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Gels: Design, Properties, and Applications)
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15 pages, 939 KB  
Review
Reproducibility in Carbon Nanotube-Based Hydrogels: The Role of CNT Material State and Reporting
by Elsa Gabriela Ordoñez-Casanova, Rosa Alicia Saucedo-Acuña, Karla Lizette Tovar-Carrillo and Hector Alejandro Trejo-Mandujano
Gels 2026, 12(4), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040273 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 418
Abstract
Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based hydrogels continue to present a persistent challenge of material comparability, as systems that appear equivalent frequently generate different mechanical, electrical, and biological responses. Although experimental variability is frequently cited as the primary explanation, many discrepancies arise from comparing systems whose [...] Read more.
Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based hydrogels continue to present a persistent challenge of material comparability, as systems that appear equivalent frequently generate different mechanical, electrical, and biological responses. Although experimental variability is frequently cited as the primary explanation, many discrepancies arise from comparing systems whose nanotubes differ structurally in ways that are rarely documented. Diameter distribution, defect density, residual catalyst content, and surface chemistry directly influence CNT dispersion, network integration, and interactions in hydrated polymer matrices. When these parameters are insufficiently reported, formulations that appear comparable may represent materially distinct systems. In this review, the CNT–hydrogel literature is reconsidered from the perspective of material comparability. Rather than focusing only on whether reported results agree across studies, this review evaluates whether sufficient structural and processing information is available to determine if the systems being compared are materially equivalent. Selected publications were analyzed using a reporting-based descriptor framework encompassing nanotube origin, structural characterization, dispersion, microstructure, transport behavior, and biological relationships. A consistent pattern emerges: reproducibility becomes more interpretable when nanotube identity and processing history are documented with sufficient resolution. This enables meaningful cross-study comparison without requiring strict protocol standardization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Gels: Design, Properties, and Applications)
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