Smart Hydrogel-Type Formulations: New Insights Regarding Design and Biomedical Applications
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 886
Special Issue Editors
2. Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: nanoformulation; nanoparticles; drug delivery; green synthesis; chemical synthesis; cancer therapy; in vitro experimental evaluations; biological activity; physicochemical properties of vegetal extracts or nanoformulations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: drug formulation; topical drug delivery systems and cosmetics (ointments, lipophilic and hydrophilic creams, hydrogels, oleogels, bigels, nanoparticulate and microparticulate systems); physicochemical, rheological and textural evaluation of topical drug delivery systems and cosmetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Formulation and Technology of Drugs Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: drug formulation; topical drug delivery systems and cosmetics (ointments, lipophilic and hydrophilic creams, hydrogels, oleogels, bigels, nanoparticulate and microparticulate systems); physicochemical, rheological and textural evaluation of topical drug delivery systems and cosmetics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hydrogels, three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymers capable of absorbing and retaining large amounts of water or biologics (proteins, peptides and genes), have garnered significant attention due to their diverse applications across various fields, particularly in biomedical domain. These formulations have been explored extensively for their potential in tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.
In the field of targeted drug delivery, hydrogels are considered promising platforms for the controlled and localized release of therapeutic agents, minimizing side associated with conventional chemotherapy and improving treatment efficacy. Recently, more and more emphasis has been placed on the development of smart hydrogels with stimulus-response characteristics, offering on-demand release, extended action times and reduced administration frequencies, improving ultimately bioavailability of drugs and reducing side effects. The development of microfabricated hydrogels or based on bioactive nanocomposites cross-linked with multifunctional nano-reticles, has proven promising in promoting tissue engineering or tissue regeneration. In the field of materials science, the modification of hydrogels to improve their properties has been a key area of interest, due to the multifunctionality of this advanced materials, which has led to the development of highly adhesive, resistant, and stimuli-responsive hydrogels to biophysical and biochemical stimuli, highlighting their versatility and potential for modern medicine. Therefore, the integration of therapeutic agents, nanomaterials, nanoparticles, liposomes, or biologics, makes hydrogels a versatile class of intelligent formulations with immense potential across the biomedical field. The incorporation strategies have shown promise in improving the mechanical, swelling and adhesion properties of hydrogels, thereby improving drug delivery efficiency.
Within the current Special Issue, we aim to bring together full papers, both original articles and reviews and short communications, on recent developments of smart hydrogels that enable the design of highly sophisticated formulations for self-regulated drug delivery to improve drug bioavailability, targeted delivery, and precisely controlled release, as well as to prolonged drug half-life, enhance their stability, and therapeutic outcomes, making them valuable tools in precision modern medicine. The design of smart hydrogels will drive innovation and advances in medical research and healthcare. By harnessing the unique properties of hydrogels and exploring new formulations and applications, researchers and clinicians will be poised to unlock new possibilities for improving patient outcomes and advancing medical treatments.
Dr. Elena-Alina Moacă
Dr. Ioana Viorica Olariu
Dr. Georgeta Coneac
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.
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Keywords
- hydrogels
- gelling formulations
- stimuli-responsive hydrogels
- magnetic hydrogels
- light-cured hydrogels
- metallic hydrogels
- manufacturing process (design)
- physicochemical features
- mechanical properties
- biological activity
- cancer therapy
- drug delivery platforms
- drug integration
- materials encapsulation
- drug release kinetics
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