Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.6
5.3
Journals
Gels
Special Issues
Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications
share announcement

Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 5115

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Qi Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Material Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China
Interests: hydrogels; active biomaterials; amino acid polymers; cell adhesion; tissue repair

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels have emerged as a revolutionary material in modern biomedical research, especially in the realm of tissue repair. The native cell microenvironment is a sophisticated ecosystem that provides essential signals for cell growth, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. Our efforts in developing hydrogels aim to precisely mimic these conditions. For instance, in bone repair, we design hydrogels with suitable stiffness and bioactive components to encourage osteoblast adhesion and bone formation. In cartilage repair, the hydrogels are engineered to match the viscoelasticity of natural cartilage, facilitating chondrocyte function. For myocardial repair, these hydrogels can serve as delivery vehicles for growth factors and support the regeneration of damaged cardiac tissue.

This Special Issue aims to gather the latest research on hydrogels for tissue repair. We welcome contributions from all over the world, covering aspects such as hydrogel synthesis, characterization, and their applications in different tissue repair scenarios. By sharing our knowledge and findings, we can accelerate the development of hydrogel-based therapies and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from tissue-related diseases.

Dr. Qi Chen
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.

Keywords

  • hydrogels
  • tissue repair
  • natural cell microenvironment
  • bone repair
  • cartilage repair
  • myocardial repair

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.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 9384 KB  
Article
Kefiran as a Novel Biomaterial Ink Component: Preliminary Assessment of 3D Printing Feasibility and Biocompatibility
by Elena Utoiu, Andreea Plangu, Vasile-Sorin Manoiu, Elena Iulia Oprita, Rodica Tatia, Claudiu Utoiu and Oana Craciunescu
Gels 2026, 12(4), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040279 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 412
Abstract
The development of biomimetic scaffolds requires balancing structural integrity with biological signaling. This study evaluates kefiran, a microbial exopolysaccharide, as a bioactive component in establishing printing feasibility of 3D composite constructs. Kefiran from Romanian artisanal cultures was characterized via 1H-NMR, HPLC, and [...] Read more.
The development of biomimetic scaffolds requires balancing structural integrity with biological signaling. This study evaluates kefiran, a microbial exopolysaccharide, as a bioactive component in establishing printing feasibility of 3D composite constructs. Kefiran from Romanian artisanal cultures was characterized via 1H-NMR, HPLC, and SEM/TEM, confirming a high-quality hexasaccharide repeating unit. Three composite inks (K100, K70, and K50) were developed by integrating kefiran, chondroitin sulfate, and Si-substituted hydroxyapatite into an alginate matrix and processed using a Bio X 3D-printer. Results showed that higher kefiran concentrations improved printing feasibility, providing enhanced structural fidelity and stability during the layer-by-layer deposition process. All bioprinted scaffolds demonstrated high cytocompatibility with L929 fibroblasts, maintaining viability above 70%. Notably, kefiran exhibited dual-functional therapeutic potential: concentrations above 500 mg/L showed a concentration-dependent antiproliferative effect against HT-29 cells at 72 h while remaining safe for normal cells. These findings establish kefiran-based biomaterial inks as robust, bioactive platforms for regenerative medicine. By enhancing both the mechanical printability of alginate composites and the biological response of cultured cells, kefiran proves to be a versatile component for advanced tissue engineering and potential biological activity applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 9587 KB  
Article
Dermal Fibroblasts Modulate Migration and Phenotype of Infiltrating Monocytes in Skin-Derived Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels
by Xue Zhang, Meng Zhang, Linda A. Brouwer and Martin C. Harmsen
Gels 2026, 12(4), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040269 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Modeling immune cell recruitment within a wound-relevant microenvironment remains challenging. Here, we developed a novel skin-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel model to study monocyte (THP-1) entry and phenotypic changes within a dermal fibroblast-populated (NHDF) matrix. The main novelty of this study is that [...] Read more.
Modeling immune cell recruitment within a wound-relevant microenvironment remains challenging. Here, we developed a novel skin-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel model to study monocyte (THP-1) entry and phenotypic changes within a dermal fibroblast-populated (NHDF) matrix. The main novelty of this study is that it compares the effects of fibroblast-derived soluble signals and active monocyte infiltration in a 3D biomimetic model. Signaling by fibroblast-secreted soluble factors enhanced a pro-angiogenic secretome (e.g., >3-fold upregulation of VEGFA at day 1) and promoted endothelial tube formation (increasing network junctions to 1.16 ± 0.16 vs. 0.93 ± 0.23 in monoculture). In contrast, this paracrine signaling did not induce the matrix-driven pro-fibrotic response in hydrogels. Crucially, physical immune infiltration restricted monocyte penetration (mean depth of 8.92 ± 2.27 μm vs. 121.1 ± 15.9 μm in monoculture at day 5), reduced hydrogel-induced myofibroblast activation (decreasing α-SMA+ cells from 79.1% to 54.3% upon initial contact), and was associated with slower collagen loss during the early phase. (retaining a high-density collagen ratio of 3.46 ± 0.33 vs. 2.02 ± 0.29 in monoculture at day 1). These observations were accompanied by a shift toward a matrix-stabilizing profile, including increased TIMP expression and reduced pro-fibrotic markers. (ACTA2 and COL1A1). By including active immune infiltration (which was absent in previous tSVF models), we capture the transition from inflammation to the proliferation stage. Although the later stages of extensive ECM remodeling appear suppressed here, they may occur as repair progresses. Overall, our findings highlight that the immune cell is a key regulatory component for coordinating matrix preservation and vascular support. Importantly, this model replicates the early phases of wound healing, a stage where the monocyte–fibroblast secretome supports endothelial network formation. We established this innovative 3D ECM hydrogel system as a practical and physiologically relevant platform to investigate immune–matrix–stromal crosstalk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 4053 KB  
Article
Design and Characterization of Gold Nanorod Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Nanocomposites for NIR Photothermally Assisted Drug Delivery
by Alessandro Molinelli, Leonardo Bianchi, Elisa Lacroce, Zoe Giorgi, Laura Polito, Ada De Luigi, Francesca Lopriore, Francesco Briatico Vangosa, Paolo Bigini, Paola Saccomandi and Filippo Rossi
Gels 2026, 12(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010088 - 19 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 828
Abstract
The combination of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with hydrogels has drawn significant interest in the design of smart materials as advanced platforms for biomedical applications. These systems endow light-responsiveness enabled by the AuNPs localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. In this study, we propose [...] Read more.
The combination of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with hydrogels has drawn significant interest in the design of smart materials as advanced platforms for biomedical applications. These systems endow light-responsiveness enabled by the AuNPs localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. In this study, we propose a nanocomposite hydrogel in which gold nanorods (AuNRs) are included in an agarose–carbomer–hyaluronic acid (AC-HA)-based hydrogel matrix to study the correlation between light irradiation, local temperature increase, and drug release for potential light-assisted drug delivery applications. The gel is obtained through a facile microwave-assisted polycondensation reaction, and its properties are investigated as a function of both the hyaluronic acid molecular weight and ratio. Afterwards, AuNRs are incorporated in the AC-HA formulation, before the sol–gel transition, to impart light-responsiveness and optical properties to the otherwise inert polymeric matrix. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of AuNRs/AC-HA light-induced heat generation and drug delivery performances under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation in vitro. Spatiotemporal thermal profiles and high-resolution thermal maps are registered using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor arrays, enabling accurate probing of maximum internal temperature variations within the composite matrix. Lastly, using a high-steric-hindrance protein (BSA) as a drug mimetic, we demonstrate that moderate localized heating under short-time repeated NIR exposure enhances the release from the nanocomposite hydrogel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 5559 KB  
Article
Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Sponges Embedded with M2 Macrophages: An Adoptive Cell Therapy Strategy for Accelerated Diabetic Wound Healing
by Qingchang Tian, Wenqi Li, Lijiaqi Zhang, Kefen Gan, Yiting Zhang and Shuling Wang
Gels 2025, 11(7), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11070502 - 27 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1501
Abstract
Hydrogels possess advantages for providing a moist wound environment and enabling drug or cell delivery. Wound healing is a complex, multistage process where macrophages play a pivotal role; they influence inflammation resolution, anti-inflammatory cytokine production, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Combining hydrogel materials [...] Read more.
Hydrogels possess advantages for providing a moist wound environment and enabling drug or cell delivery. Wound healing is a complex, multistage process where macrophages play a pivotal role; they influence inflammation resolution, anti-inflammatory cytokine production, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Combining hydrogel materials with adoptive M2 macrophages offers a promising adoptive cell therapy approach to accelerate healing. In the present study, sodium alginate, a natural polymer, was harnessed to create hydrogel sponges embedded with M2 macrophages for application to chronic wounds. Hydrogel sponges were capable of preserving the characteristics of M2 macrophages, secreting functional cellular factors, and maintaining viability. Hydrogel sponges loaded with M2 type macrophages could promote chronic wound healing in the back of type 2 diabetic mice. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that M2 macrophages successfully grew and proliferated within the hydrogel sponges, exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects, which is expected to offer a cell therapy approach to diabetic wound treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 1991 KB  
Review
Injectable Scaffolds for Adipose Tissue Reconstruction
by Valeria Pruzzo, Francesca Bonomi, Ettore Limido, Andrea Weinzierl, Yves Harder and Matthias W. Laschke
Gels 2026, 12(1), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010081 - 17 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1437
Abstract
Autologous fat grafting is the main surgical technique for soft tissue reconstruction. However, its clinical use with more extended volumes is limited by repeated procedures due to the little possibility of banking tissue, donor-site morbidity and unpredictable graft resorption rates. To overcome these [...] Read more.
Autologous fat grafting is the main surgical technique for soft tissue reconstruction. However, its clinical use with more extended volumes is limited by repeated procedures due to the little possibility of banking tissue, donor-site morbidity and unpredictable graft resorption rates. To overcome these problems, adipose tissue engineering has focused on developing injectable scaffolds. Most of them are hydrogels that closely mimic the biological, structural and mechanical characteristics of native adipose tissue. This review provides an overview of current injectable scaffolds designed to restore soft tissue volume defects, emphasizing their translational potential and future directions. Natural injectable scaffolds exhibit excellent biocompatibility but degrade rapidly and lack mechanical strength. Synthetic injectable scaffolds provide tunable elasticity and degradation rates but require biofunctionalization to support cell adhesion and tissue integration. Adipose extracellular matrix-derived injectable scaffolds are fabricated by decellularization of adipose tissue. Accordingly, they combine bio-mimetic structure with intrinsic biological cues that stimulate host-driven adipogenesis and angiogenesis, thus representing a translatable “off-the-shelf” alternative to autologous fat grafting. However, despite this broad spectrum of available injectable scaffolds, the establishment of clinically reliable soft tissue substitutes capable of supporting large-volume and long-lasting soft tissue reconstruction still remains an open challenge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop