Recent Advances in Gel-Based Materials for Cancer Therapy

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains a major challenge in modern medicine, demanding continuous innovation in therapeutic strategies. Conventional treatments often suffer from systemic toxicity, limited bioavailability, and poor targeting efficiency. In this context, gel-based materials, such as hydrogels, nanogels, and injectable in situ forming gels, have emerged as a revolutionary platform with unparalleled potential to overcome these hurdles. Their unique properties, such as tunable physicochemical characteristics, and responsive behavior to biological stimuli (e.g., pH, enzymes, temperature), enable precise spatial and temporal control over therapeutic delivery.

This Special Issue, titled, “Recent Advances in Gel-Based Materials for Cancer Therapy”, is dedicated to capturing the cutting-edge progress at the intersection of materials science, chemistry, biology, and oncology. We aim to compile a collection of research that bridges fundamental understanding with translational application. The scope extends from the rational design and synthesis of gel systems to a deep investigation of their interactions within the complex tumor microenvironment. Key areas of interest include but are not limited to the following: engineered gels for targeted drug, gene, or immunotherapy delivery; stimulus-responsive systems for on-demand release; multifunctional platforms combining diagnosis and therapy (theranostics); and gels designed as immunomodulatory scaffolds or for post-surgical treatment.

We invite contributions that address the fundamental structure–property–performance relationships of these materials, employing advanced characterization, modeling, and both in vitro and in vivo studies. By fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue, this Special Issue seeks to elucidate how precise control over gel chemistry, architecture, and dynamics can dictate biological outcomes. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive resource that not only highlights current breakthroughs but also stimulates novel ideas and collaborative efforts to accelerate the development of next-generation, effective, and safe gel-based therapies for cancer.

Dr. Mengyu Guo
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 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.