Biomass-Based Gels
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Chemistry and Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3
Special Issue Editors
Interests: hydrogels; cellulose; sensing; polymer
Interests: drug delivery system; nanoparticles; nanoemulsions; nanocomposites; hydrogels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The increasing need for continuous, comfortable, and environmentally responsible health monitoring has accelerated interest in biomass-derived gels as next-generation sensing materials. Hydrogels and organogels made from renewable polymers—cellulose, chitosan, alginate, gelatin, lignin, and other biopolymers—offer tissue-like mechanics, intrinsic biocompatibility, and tunable chemistries that make them ideal interfaces for capturing physiological signals (strain, pressure, temperature, bioelectric activity, and chemical biomarkers). Beyond performance, their biodegradability and potential for closed-loop recycling address growing concerns about electronic waste in wearable and implantable devices.
This Special Issue seeks original research and authoritative reviews that advance the design, characterization, and application of biomass-based gels for physiological sensing. Relevant topics include but are not limited to the following: novel biomass sources and green extraction methods; molecular and supramolecular strategies for conductivity and signal transduction (e.g., ionic networks, redox polymers, conductive fillers); mechanical tuning (stretchability, toughness, self-healing); responsive and multifunctional gels (self-powered, adhesive, antimicrobial); theoretical and multiscale models linking structure to sensing function; biocompatibility, long-term stability, and in vivo validation; and scalable processing toward device integration and manufacturing. Interdisciplinary contributions that combine materials chemistry, device engineering, and biological evaluation are especially encouraged.
We invite authors to submit experimental studies, computational insights, device demonstrations, perspectives, and critical reviews that collectively chart pathways from sustainable polymer design to reliable, high-performance biosensing systems. This collection aims to accelerate translational research that couples high-sensing performance with ecological responsibility.
Dr. Xia Sun
Dr. Tao Yi
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
- biomass-based gels
- physiological signal detection
- biopolymers (cellulose, chitosan)
- wearable biosensors
- sustainable/biodegradable materials
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
