Hydrogels for Cartilage Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1410
Special Issue Editors
2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300—Box 2422, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Interests: mechanical characterization; soft tissues; in silico modeling; inverse methods; cartilage
2. Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Tissue Homeostasis and Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
3. Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Interests: cartilage; tissue culture; osteoarthritis; mechanobiology; mechanotransduction
2. Department of Materials Engineering (MTM), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44—Box 2450, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
3. Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
4. Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Interests: bone; cartilage; tissue engineering; biofabrication; bioprinting; melt electrowriting; hydrogels
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hydrogels are increasingly recognized as a crucial material in the field of tissue engineering and mechanobiological studies, particularly for advancing cartilage regeneration. Possessing favorable properties for biomedical applications, such as biocompatibility, high water content and mechanical properties, hydrogels serve as ideal substrates for mimicking the intricate microenvironment of tissues.
In cartilage tissue engineering and mechanobiological studies, hydrogels can be used to support the growth and proliferation of chondrocytes, thanks to their flexibility and suppleness, which closely emulate the mechanical properties of native cartilage. Furthermore, engineered hydrogels can be designed to degrade at a rate synchronized with the growth of new tissue, thereby supporting the fusion of the new tissue with the body.
The ability of hydrogels to mimic natural extracellular matrix (ECM), coupled with their tunable properties, positions them as desirable candidates for creating scaffolds aimed at supporting tissue regeneration. However, challenges persist, notably in matching hydrogel degradation rates with tissue growth and enhancing mechanical properties without compromising biocompatibility and bioactivity. Nevertheless, ongoing research and development endeavors hold promise for overcoming these hurdles and further enhancing the efficacy of hydrogels in cartilage mechanobiological research and skeletal tissue engineering applications.
Dr. Seyed Ali Elahi
Dr. Rocío Castro-Viñuelas
Dr. Veerle Bloemen
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- hydrogels
- tissue engineering
- cartilage
- biocompatibility
- mechanobiology
- mechanical properties
- scaffolds
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