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Recent Advances in Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition)
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Recent Advances in Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 3921

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kai Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Interests: hydrogels; self-assembly; systems chemistry; biomaterial; nanomedicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Recent Advances in Hydrogels for Biomedical Application”, aims to cover a range of topics, from the fundamental principles of hydrogel synthesis and characterization to emerging applications in biomedical engineering, such as cell culture, tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, and theranostics.

Hydrogels are an important class of soft materials characterized by their water-swollen and three-dimensional structure, biodegradability, and injectability. These materials have garnered substantial attention in recent years due to their diverse biomedical applications. Precise control of the spatiotemporal structure of hydrogels forms the bedrock for their complex biomedical applications. This control allows for the synthesis of hydrogels with adjustable physiochemical properties and responsive behavior. Advancements in this field require an interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry, biology, and materials science to gain insights into the relationship between molecular and supramolecular structures, and the biological effects resulting from the dynamic behavior of hydrogel systems at biointerfaces. Such efforts can aid in fine-tuning the properties of hydrogels as required and open up new applications in biomedicine. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to provide an in-depth look at the latest advances in the control of hydrogels and highlight their corresponding biomedical applications. It is hoped that the topics will stimulate new research and discoveries in related fields.

Prof. Dr. Kai Liu
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

  • hydrogels
  • spatiotemporal control
  • cell culture
  • tissue engineering
  • drug delivery
  • theranostics
  • biomedical applications

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2680 KiB  
Article
Rheology and Printability of Hydroxyapatite/Sodium Alginate Bioinks Added with Bovine or Fish Collagen Peptides
by Mario Milazzo, Roberta Rovelli, Claudio Ricci, Teresa Macchi, Giuseppe Gallone and Serena Danti
Gels 2025, 11(3), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030209 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 544
Abstract
The high biocompatibility and the key role of collagen in bone extracellular matrix make it useful for tissue engineering. However, the high demand, costs, and challenges of extracting good-quality collagen have led to the use of collagen derivatives and search for non-human alternatives. [...] Read more.
The high biocompatibility and the key role of collagen in bone extracellular matrix make it useful for tissue engineering. However, the high demand, costs, and challenges of extracting good-quality collagen have led to the use of collagen derivatives and search for non-human alternatives. This study investigates fish and bovine collagen peptides (Collf and Collb, respectively) as sustainable sources for 3D-printed bone scaffolds by developing and characterizing peptide-incorporated alginate/hydroxyapatite-based bioinks. The chemical analysis revealed structural similarities between the peptides, while rheological tests showed a slightly higher viscosity of Collf-based inks, which improved shape fidelity during the printing process. Upon oscillating rheological tests, both the Collf and Collb-based ink formulations demonstrated a solid-like behavior at frequencies higher than 0.4 Hz, which is crucial for maintaining the printed structure integrity during extrusion. Although Collb-based inks exhibited better pore printability, Collf-based inks achieved superior resolution and geometry retention. Macro-porous structures printed from both inks showed good accuracy, with minimal shrinkage attributed to hydroxyapatite. Both the produced inks had a high gel fraction and swelling behavior, with Collb-based outperforming Collf-based inks. Finally, both ink formulations resulted to be cytocompatibile with human dermal fibroblasts. These findings position Collf- and Collb-based inks as promising alternatives for bone tissue scaffolds, offering a sustainable balance between performance and structural stability in 3D printing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition))
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21 pages, 7907 KiB  
Article
Encapsulation of Hydrogen Peroxide in PVA/PVP Hydrogels for Medical Applications
by Natalie Mounayer, Sivan Shoshani, Elena Afrimzon, Taly Iline-Vul, Moris Topaz, Ehud Banin and Shlomo Margel
Gels 2025, 11(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010031 - 2 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1415
Abstract
Researchers have been investigating the physical and morphological properties of biodegradable polymer and copolymer films, blending them with other chemicals to solve challenges in medical, industrial, and eco-environmental fields. The present study introduces a novel, straightforward method for preparing biodegradable hydrogels based on [...] Read more.
Researchers have been investigating the physical and morphological properties of biodegradable polymer and copolymer films, blending them with other chemicals to solve challenges in medical, industrial, and eco-environmental fields. The present study introduces a novel, straightforward method for preparing biodegradable hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) for medical applications. The resulting PVA/PVP-based hydrogel uniquely combines the water absorbency, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the polymer composite. For hygiene products and medical uses, such as wound healing, hydrogen peroxide (HP) was encapsulated in the PVA/PVP hydrogels for controlled release application. Incorporating PVP into PVA significantly enhances the hydrogel water absorbency and improves the mechanical properties. However, to mitigate the disadvantage of high water absorbency which could result in undesired early dissolution, efforts were made to increase the water resistance and the mechanical characteristics of these hydrogels using freeze–thaw (F/T) cycles and chemical crosslinking PVA chains with trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP). The resulting hydrogels serve as environmentally friendly bio-based polymer blends, broadening their applications in medical and industrial products. The structural and morphological properties of the hydrogel were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), environmental scanning electron microscope analysis (E-SEM), and water-swelling tests. The HP controlled release rate was evaluated through kinetic release experiments using the ex vivo skin model. The antibacterial activity of the hydrogel films was examined on four medically relevant bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with an adapted disk diffusion assay. Using this assay, we also evaluated the antibacterial effect of the hydrogel films over the course of days, demonstrating the HP controlled release from these hydrogels. These findings support further in vivo investigation into controlled HP release systems for improved wound-healing outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition))
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Review

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30 pages, 3826 KiB  
Review
Exosome-Integrated Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering
by Hee Sook Hwang and Chung-Sung Lee
Gels 2024, 10(12), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120762 - 23 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1602
Abstract
Exosome-integrated hydrogels represent a promising frontier in bone tissue engineering, leveraging the unique biological properties of exosomes to enhance the regenerative capabilities of hydrogels. Exosomes, as naturally occurring extracellular vesicles, carry a diverse array of bioactive molecules that play critical roles in intercellular [...] Read more.
Exosome-integrated hydrogels represent a promising frontier in bone tissue engineering, leveraging the unique biological properties of exosomes to enhance the regenerative capabilities of hydrogels. Exosomes, as naturally occurring extracellular vesicles, carry a diverse array of bioactive molecules that play critical roles in intercellular communication and tissue regeneration. When combined with hydrogels, these exosomes can be spatiotemporally delivered to target sites, offering a controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in the development, engineering, and application of exosome-integrated hydrogels for bone tissue engineering, highlighting their potential to overcome current challenges in tissue regeneration. Furthermore, the review explores the mechanistic pathways by which exosomes embedded within hydrogels facilitate bone repair, encompassing the regulation of inflammatory pathways, enhancement of angiogenic processes, and induction of osteogenic differentiation. Finally, the review addresses the existing challenges, such as scalability, reproducibility, and regulatory considerations, while also suggesting future directions for research in this rapidly evolving field. Thus, we hope this review contributes to advancing the development of next-generation biomaterials that synergistically integrate exosome and hydrogel technologies, thereby enhancing the efficacy of bone tissue regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition))
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