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Gels
Special Issues
Biopolymeric Gels: Advancements in Sustainable Multifunctional Materials
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Biopolymeric Gels: Advancements in Sustainable Multifunctional Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 2516

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mario García-González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain
2. 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
3. ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biomaterials; biopolymers; marine drugs; marine biomaterials; biomedical applications; preclinical studies; animal model; veterinary surgery; circular economy; in vivo studies; orthopedic pathologies; gels
Dr. Tiago H. Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
2. ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: marine biomaterials; bioinspired materials; tissue engineering; marine biotechnology; valorization of byproducts; biorefinery and circular economy; surface modification; biomedical applications; gels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. José Antonio Vázquez Álvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Grupo de Reciclado y Valorización de Materiales Residuales (REVAL), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM-CSIC), 36208 Vigo, Spain
Interests: biochemical engineering; marine biorefinery; food waste valorization; mathematical modeling of bioprocesses, fermentation; marine biopolymers; gels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biopolymeric gels represent a rapidly evolving class of materials that lie at the intersection of sustainability and high-performance functionality. Derived from renewable sources or inspired by natural systems, these gels offer unique advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable physicochemical properties. Their versatility makes them particularly attractive for biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, wound healing, and even clinical applications, where their in vivo behavior and functional responsiveness are crucial.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advances in biopolymeric gels as sustainable and multifunctional materials, with preclinical and clinical biomedical applications. We welcome original research and review articles on novel gel systems, smart or stimuli-responsive gels, bioactive or therapeutic functionalities, and in vivo or clinical performance. Contributions addressing structure–function relationships, hybrid formulations, or innovative manufacturing techniques (e.g., 3D printing, injectable systems) are especially welcome.

At the same time, we invite proposals exploring non-biomedical applications, such as soft robotics, agriculture, food packaging, or environmental remediation, to reflect the broad impact of these materials on the advancement of sustainable technologies.

By bringing together interdisciplinary research spanning materials science, biology, chemistry, and engineering, this Special Issue seeks to present the next generation of multifunctional, eco-friendly biopolymer gels with practical relevance.

Dr. Mario García-González
Dr. Tiago H. Silva
Dr. José Antonio Vázquez Álvarez
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 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

  • biopolymeric gels
  • biomedical applications
  • in vitro/in vivo studies
  • sustainable materials
  • multifunctional polymers
  • injectable gels
  • regenerative medicine
  • circular materials

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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19 pages, 6599 KB  
Article
Biopolymer-Based Gel Capsules for Improved Probiotic Delivery
by Roxana Elena Gheorghita, Andrei Lobiuc, Mihai Covasa, Alina Crina Muresan and Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu
Gels 2026, 12(3), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12030212 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Biopolymer-based encapsulation represents an effective strategy to enhance probiotic stability and targeted gastrointestinal delivery. In this study, gel capsules composed of sodium alginate (SA) and wheat starch (ST) were developed via extrusion to encapsulate Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) and Bacillus clausii [...] Read more.
Biopolymer-based encapsulation represents an effective strategy to enhance probiotic stability and targeted gastrointestinal delivery. In this study, gel capsules composed of sodium alginate (SA) and wheat starch (ST) were developed via extrusion to encapsulate Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) and Bacillus clausii (B. clausii), aiming to improve probiotic viability and controlled release. Capsule morphology, color, swelling behavior, encapsulation efficiency, and probiotic survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions were systematically evaluated as a function of polymer ratio and probiotic loading. Capsule diameters ranged from 236.6 to 279.17 μm and were primarily governed by the SA-ST ratio, with higher ST content yielding smaller, more compact structures. Encapsulation efficiency varied between 71.2% and 96.7%, reaching maximal values in formulations with balanced SA:ST ratios (1:1) and higher probiotic loads. All formulations maintained high cell viability (>96%) following encapsulation. In vitro digestion studies demonstrated that SA-ST capsules significantly enhanced probiotic survival in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, with the highest cumulative survival observed in ST-rich matrices containing 20% probiotic load. Swelling analyses revealed that ST incorporation promoted controlled hydration and matrix relaxation without compromising structural integrity, supporting sustained release behavior. Overall, the SA-ST biopolymer system provides a simple, scalable, and cost-effective platform for co-encapsulation of L. rhamnosus and B. clausii, offering synergistic protection, high encapsulation efficiency, and improved gastrointestinal stability, with promising applications in functional foods and pharmaceutical formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymeric Gels: Advancements in Sustainable Multifunctional Materials)
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32 pages, 798 KB  
Systematic Review
Platelet-Rich Plasma in Veterinary Orthopedic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Quality Evaluation on Liquid- and Gel-Based Therapies in Dogs
by Francisco Vidal-Negreira, Mario García-González, Victoria Valiño-Cultelli and Antonio González-Cantalapiedra
Gels 2025, 11(12), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11120994 - 10 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1430
Abstract
The clinical use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained increasing attention as a regenerative strategy in veterinary orthopedic surgery, yet its efficacy beyond osteoarthritis remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of liquid and gel PRP formulations as adjuncts [...] Read more.
The clinical use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained increasing attention as a regenerative strategy in veterinary orthopedic surgery, yet its efficacy beyond osteoarthritis remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of liquid and gel PRP formulations as adjuncts in canine orthopedic procedures and to assess the methodological quality of the available evidence. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Fourteen eligible studies (six experimental in vivo and eight clinical investigations) including in vivo and clinical investigations of fracture and osteotomy repair and tendon or ligament reconstruction were critically analyzed. Overall, PRP demonstrated safety and biological activity, with early-phase improvements in tissue regeneration and inflammatory modulation; however, long-term functional outcomes were often similar to controls. Gel PRP showed practical advantages in handling, local retention, and the sustained release of growth factors, acting as a transient fibrin scaffold. Quality and risk-of-bias assessments following ARRIVE 2.0, CONSORT, and RoB 2.0 guidelines revealed moderate methodological rigor, with frequent omissions in blinding, sample-size calculation, and preregistration. However, the marked heterogeneity in PRP preparations and outcomes across studies, together with weak evidence for consistent long-term benefits, limits the strength of these conclusions. These findings highlight PRP, particularly in gel form, as a promising biological adjuvant for orthopedic repair in dogs, while emphasizing the need for standardized preparation protocols and harmonized outcome measures to advance its translational application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymeric Gels: Advancements in Sustainable Multifunctional Materials)
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