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Gels
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Gels for Biomedical Applications
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Gels for Biomedical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025 | Viewed by 10138

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Joaquim Suñer-Carbó

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: semisolid formulations; emulsions; rheology; dispersed systems; topical drug delivery systems; gels; nanomedicine; drug permeation
Dr. Helena Colom-Codina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: semisolid formulations; emulsions; dispersed systems; topical drug delivery systems; gels; nanomedicine; nanocarriers; drug permeation; pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamic drug evaluation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gels play a pivotal role in biomedical applications due to their unique physical properties and versatile capabilities such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and adaptability to different environments. These three-dimensional polymeric crosslinked networks resemble natural tissues and are extensively used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and diagnostics. Gels can be designed to release drugs in a controlled manner, and tailoring their composition allows us to control biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical properties, which are crucial for specific applications.

Hydrogels contain high water content resembling native tissue and are commonly employed for controlled drug release and wound dressings. In situ forming gels offer minimally invasive delivery, while smart gels respond to physiological changes for on-demand drug release. Scaffold-like gels promote cell growth in tissue engineering. However, challenges like mechanical fragility and inconsistent performance under physiological conditions still require attention. Advances in material science continue to enhance gel design, fuelling their significance in creating effective biomedical solutions with improved patient outcomes.

This Special Issue focuses on recent research in innovative material design, resulting in improved gel properties, stability, and functionality in the biomedical field. We welcome contributions tackling gel development, characterization, and evaluation.

Dr. Joaquim Suñer-Carbó
Dr. Helena Colom-Codina
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

  • gels
  • hydrogels
  • smart gels
  • in situ gels
  • biomedical applications
  • drug delivery
  • tissue engineering
  • wound healing

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4094 KiB  
Communication
Wound Healing Enhancement and Physical Characterization of Bioadhesive Poly(acrylic acid)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Complex Gels
by Ayaka Oouchi, Tomoko Ito, Yasuhiro Katahira, Hideaki Hasegawa, Kenichi Nakamura, Izuru Mizoguchi, Takayuki Yoshimoto and Yoshiyuki Koyama
Gels 2025, 11(4), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11040300 - 19 Apr 2025
Viewed by 266
Abstract
In addition to protection against microorganisms and hemostasis, wound dressings are now expected to actively promote healing. A water-absorbing complex of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was developed by mixing the polymers under specific conditions. This complex swells in water and adheres [...] Read more.
In addition to protection against microorganisms and hemostasis, wound dressings are now expected to actively promote healing. A water-absorbing complex of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was developed by mixing the polymers under specific conditions. This complex swells in water and adheres strongly to biological tissues. Upon application to a wound, it absorbs blood, swells, and adheres firmly, providing coverage. During this process, blood cells that infiltrate the gel secrete growth factors and other bioactive molecules, which are retained and gradually released toward the wound, promoting healing. In the present study, the mechanical properties of the PAA/PVP complexes were analyzed, and their healing-promoting effects were examined. In a diabetic mouse skin wound model, untreated wounds remained over 95% of their original size after 4 days. In contrast, wounds treated with the PAA/PVP complex shrank to 70–75% of their original size by day 4, and further reduced to 17–23% by day 11. Histological analysis on day 11 showed complete or nearly complete re-epithelialization in PAA/PVP-treated wounds, while untreated wounds exhibited incomplete tissue regeneration. These results suggest that the PAA/PVP complex not only provides physical protection, but also facilitates tissue repair, demonstrating its potential as a next-generation wound dressing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Biomedical Applications)
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22 pages, 5010 KiB  
Article
Porcine Bone Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel as a Promising Graft for Bone Regeneration
by Rotem Hayam, Shani Hamias, Michal Skitel Moshe, Tzila Davidov, Feng-Chun Yen, Limor Baruch and Marcelle Machluf
Gels 2025, 11(3), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030173 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 894
Abstract
Bone defects resulting from trauma, tumors, or congenital conditions pose significant challenges for natural healing and often require grafting solutions. While autografts remain the gold standard, their limitations, such as restricted availability and donor site complications, underscore the need for alternative approaches. The [...] Read more.
Bone defects resulting from trauma, tumors, or congenital conditions pose significant challenges for natural healing and often require grafting solutions. While autografts remain the gold standard, their limitations, such as restricted availability and donor site complications, underscore the need for alternative approaches. The present research investigates the potential of porcine-derived bone extracellular matrix (pbECM) hydrogel as a highly promising bioactive scaffold for bone regeneration, comparing it to the human-derived bECM (hbECM). Porcine and human cancellous bones were decellularized and characterized in terms of their composition and structure. Further, the ECMs were processed into hydrogels, and their rheological properties and cytocompatibility were studied in vitro while their biocompatibility was studied in vivo using a mouse model. The potential of the pbECM hydrogel as a bone graft was evaluated in vivo using a rat femoral defect model. Our results demonstrated the excellent preservation of essential ECM components in both the pbECM and hbECM with more than 90% collagen out of all proteins. Rheological analyses revealed the superior mechanical properties of the pbECM hydrogel compared to the hbECM, with an approximately 10-fold higher storage modulus and a significantly later deformation point. These stronger gel properties of the pbECM were attributed to the higher content of structural proteins and residual minerals. Both the pbECM and hbECM effectively supported mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation, achieving a 20-fold increase in cell number within 10 days and highlighting their strong bioactive potential. In vivo, pbECM hydrogels elicited a minimal immunogenic response. Most importantly, when implanted in a rat femoral defect model, pbECM hydrogel had significantly enhanced bone regeneration through graft integration, stem cell recruitment, and differentiation. New bone formation was observed at an average of 50% of the defect volume, outperforming the commercial demineralized bone matrix (DBM), in which the new bone filled only 35% of the defect volume. These results position pbECM hydrogel as a highly effective and biocompatible scaffold for bone tissue engineering, offering a promising alternative to traditional grafting methods and paving the way for future clinical applications in bone repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Biomedical Applications)
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11 pages, 6165 KiB  
Article
Injectable Chitosan Hydrogel Particles as Nasal Packing Materials After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Treatment of Chronic Sinusitis
by Yusuke Yamashita, Kei Hosoya, Yukio Fujiwara, Yoichi Saito, Masahiro Yoshida, Shoji Matsune, Kimihiro Okubo and Takayuki Takei
Gels 2025, 11(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010060 - 11 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1146
Abstract
After endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), nasal packing is often used to stop bleeding and promote wound healing. Because maintaining a moist environment is important to enhance wound healing, hydrogel-based wound dressings are effective to promote wound healing. Chitosan is used in the medical [...] Read more.
After endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), nasal packing is often used to stop bleeding and promote wound healing. Because maintaining a moist environment is important to enhance wound healing, hydrogel-based wound dressings are effective to promote wound healing. Chitosan is used in the medical field because of its high hemostatic and wound healing properties. We developed a pH-neutral and non-toxic chitosan hydrogel, which was difficult to achieve using conventional methods. In this study, we show in animal experiments that the chitosan hydrogel (hydrogel particles) had higher wound healing properties than a commercially available solid wound dressing (dry state) composed of the same polymer. Additionally, we applied the injectable chitosan hydrogel particles as nasal packing materials to patients with bilateral chronic sinusitis undergoing ESS in a pilot clinical study. Concerning symptom scores, though the results narrowly missed statistical differences (p < 0.05), the average scores of our chitosan hydrogel were superior to those of a commercially available wound dressing (especially p = 0.09 for nasal bleeding). These findings suggest that the injectable chitosan hydrogel could be a viable option as a packing material following ESS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Biomedical Applications)
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19 pages, 3641 KiB  
Article
In Situ Aqueous Spice Extract-Based Antifungal Lock Strategy for Salvage of Foley’s Catheter Biofouled with Candida albicans Biofilm Gel
by Bindu Sadanandan, Vaniyamparambath Vijayalakshmi, Kalidas Shetty, Adithya Rathish, Harshala Shivkumar, Malavika Gundreddy, Nikhil Kumar Kagganti Narendra and Nethra Machamada Devaiah
Gels 2025, 11(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010023 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 984
Abstract
Candida forms a gel-like biofilm in the Foley’s catheter (FC) causing tenacious biofouling and severe urinary tract infections (UTIs). For the first time, a spice extract-based antifungal lock therapy (ALT) has been developed to inhibit the Candida albicans gel matrix in FC. Aqueous [...] Read more.
Candida forms a gel-like biofilm in the Foley’s catheter (FC) causing tenacious biofouling and severe urinary tract infections (UTIs). For the first time, a spice extract-based antifungal lock therapy (ALT) has been developed to inhibit the Candida albicans gel matrix in FC. Aqueous extracts of garlic, clove, and Indian gooseberry were used as ALT lock solutions and tested against biofilm-forming multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of C. albicans. Reduction in the gel matrices formation in the catheter was confirmed by Point inoculation, MTT assay, CFU, and SEM analysis at 12 and 24 h of incubation. Garlic was effective in controlling both C. albicans M207 and C. albicans S470; however, clove and gooseberry effectively controlled the latter. As evidenced by CFU assay, there were 82.85% and 99.68% reductions in the growth of C. albicans M207 and S470, respectively, at 24 h of incubation. SEM revealed a switch from the biofilm to the yeast mode and a drastic reduction in cell numbers, with mostly clumped or lysed cells. The study will provide an impetus to the development of novel spice extract-based ALT, reducing the selection pressure on the pathogen and lowering antimicrobial resistance. Further research in this area has the potential to leverage clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Biomedical Applications)
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17 pages, 2391 KiB  
Article
Development of an Emulgel for the Effective Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: Biocompatibility and Clinical Investigation
by Almudena Gómez-Farto, Ana Leticia Jiménez-Escobar, Noelia Pérez-González, Herminia Castán, Beatriz Clares, Salvador Arias-Santiago and Trinidad Montero-Vílchez
Gels 2024, 10(6), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10060370 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2904
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common dermatological disease affecting both children and adults. No drug-free emulgel has been developed and studied in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of AD. The aim of this study was to develop and assess the efficacy [...] Read more.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common dermatological disease affecting both children and adults. No drug-free emulgel has been developed and studied in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of AD. The aim of this study was to develop and assess the efficacy of a topical emulgel containing hyaluronic acid, glycerol, Calendula officinalis, Aloe vera, polyphenols and EGF for the concomitant treatment in patients with AD aged over 14. Objective skin barrier function parameters were included, such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin temperature, pH, stratum corneum hydration, skin elasticity and erythema. The subjective opinion of the patients was determined including acceptability, absorption, comfort of use and tolerability, as well as the degree of improvement in patients’ quality of life. We observed an improvement in the subjective parameters studied and statistically significant differences in the objective parameters. Specifically, we found an improvement in TEWL (p = 0.006), erythema (p = 0.008) and hydration (p < 0.001), parameters indicating an improvement in the epidermal barrier. One hundred per cent of patients were satisfied with the product. Therefore, these results suggest that the product may contribute to the treatment of AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Biomedical Applications)
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18 pages, 4236 KiB  
Article
Hydrogel of Thyme-Oil-PLGA Nanoparticles Designed for Skin Inflammation Treatment
by Camila Folle, Natalia Díaz-Garrido, Mireia Mallandrich, Joaquim Suñer-Carbó, Elena Sánchez-López, Lyda Halbaut, Ana M. Marqués, Marta Espina, Josefa Badia, Laura Baldoma, Ana Cristina Calpena and Maria Luisa García
Gels 2024, 10(2), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10020149 - 18 Feb 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2828
Abstract
Thyme oil (THO) possesses excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties which are suitable for skin inflammatory disorders such as acne vulgaris. However, THO is insoluble in water and its components are highly volatile. Therefore, these drawbacks may be overcome by its encapsulation in biodegradable [...] Read more.
Thyme oil (THO) possesses excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties which are suitable for skin inflammatory disorders such as acne vulgaris. However, THO is insoluble in water and its components are highly volatile. Therefore, these drawbacks may be overcome by its encapsulation in biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles (THO-NPs) that had been functionalized using several strategies. Moreover, cell viability was studied in HaCat cells, confirming their safety. In order to assess therapeutic efficacy against acne, bacterial reduction capacity and antioxidant properties were assessed. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing abilities of THO-NPs were also confirmed. Additionally, ex vivo antioxidant assessment was carried out using pig skin, demonstrating the suitable antioxidant properties of THO-NPs. Moreover, THO and THO-NPs were dispersed in a gelling system, and stability, rheological properties, and extensibility were assessed. Finally, the biomechanical properties of THO-hydrogel and THO-NP-hydrogel were studied in human volunteers, confirming the suitable activity for the treatment of acne. As a conclusion, THO has been encapsulated into PLGA NPs, and in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assessments had been carried out, demonstrating excellent properties for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Biomedical Applications)
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