Advances in Bio-Based Hydrogels

Dear Colleagues,

In natural tissues, cells live in an aqueous environment. Hydrogels are able to lock in large amounts of water due to their unique three-dimensional (3D) network structure. This physiological property, similar to that of the natural extracellular matrix, makes hydrogels a promising material for tissue engineering. Hydrogels have proven to be an excellent material for providing structural support for tissue regeneration, particularly with injectable and in situ gelling properties that allow the damaged cavity to be completely filled in a non-invasive manner, regardless of the cavity size and shape.

In recent years, researchers have developed smart hydrogels with a variety of response properties, such as temperature response, pH response, glucose response, ion recognition and molecular recognition. At the same time, a series of new hydrogels with immunomodulatory effects, self-repair properties, drug controlled release, and the ability to target cell growth and tissue regeneration were developed. Therefore, hydrogels have a wide application prospect in tissue engineering.

This Special Issue is devoted to the development of new hydrogels for tissue engineering and elaborates on the mechanisms that influence hydrogels' properties. Topics of the issue include, but are not limited to:

• The synthesis and characterization of novel hydrogel materials;
• The combination of new process technology and hydrogels;
• The effects of hydrogel properties on cell biological function in vitro;
• The application of hydrogels in promoting tissue regeneration in vivo;
• The clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of hydrogels;
• Mechanism research and modeling.

Dr. Weiqing Kong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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