Gel-Based Materials for Cartilage Regeneration

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 79

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology and Angiology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Interests: regenerative medicine; tissue engineering; regenerative orthopaedics; regenerative cardiovascular medicine; gels

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department for Health Sciences, Medicine and Research, University for Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Interests: osteoarthrits; cartilage regeneration; tissue engineering; OA treatment; viscosupplementation and blood-derived products; gels
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: skeletal regeneration; hydrogels; cell based therapy; tissue engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cartilage injuries, which are associated with profound clinical implications, represent one of the most formidable challenges in regenerative medicine. The intrinsic inability of cartilage to heal itself necessitates the pursuit of groundbreaking solutions. In this context, gel-based materials stand at the forefront of innovation, offering unparalleled capacities to replicate the intricate architecture and biomechanical properties of native cartilage. With their remarkable biocompatibility and tunable biodegradability, these materials present an elegant solution to a complex biological dilemma.

This Special Issue seeks to illuminate the most recent advancements in gel-based strategies for cartilage regeneration, fostering a deeper understanding of their mechanisms and applications. We will explore pioneering efforts in the development of injectable hydrogels, architecturally sophisticated biomimetic scaffolds, and the strategic incorporation of bioactive molecules that accelerate healing.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Hydrogels: Ingeniously designed to recapitulate the functional intricacies of cartilage, providing both mechanical integrity and a conducive cellular environment.
  • Injectable Gels: Enabling minimally invasive administration, thereby reducing patient burden and enhancing therapeutic precision.
  • Natural vs. Synthetic Gels: A comparative analysis aimed at optimizing the synergy between biocompatibility and mechanical robustness.
  • Advanced Fabrication Techniques: Leveraging state-of-the-art methodologies such as 3D bioprinting and electrospinning to construct intricately tailored scaffolds.
  • Bioactive Molecules: Harnessing the power of growth factors, cytokines, and ECM components to potentiate regenerative outcomes.
  • Clinical Translation: Bridging the gap from bench to bedside, with insights from ongoing clinical trials and translational research.

We invite the global scientific community to contribute original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that advance the field of cartilage tissue engineering. Together, we can unravel the complexities of cartilage regeneration and aid in the development of transformative therapies.

Dr. Vivek Jeyakumar
Dr. Christoph Bauer
Dr. Chao Wan
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

  • cartilage regeneration
  • hydrogels
  • injectable gels
  • biomaterials
  • tissue engineering
  • bioactive molecules
  • 3D bioprinting
  • anti-inflammatory agents

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop