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Gels publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Thixotropic Gels: Mechanisms, Functions and Applications

edited by

Nataša Šijaković Vujičić

and

Anabela Raymundo

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9857 | Submission Open

Keywords: thixotropy; self-assembly; organogels; rheology; applications; 3D-printing gels

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Smart Hydrogel for Wound Healing and Tissue Repair

edited by Xiayi Xu and Boguang Yang

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4605 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogel; wound healing; tissue repair; stimuli-responsive; wound dressing; regenerative medicine; biomedical application; anti-inflammation; biomaterials; bio-adhesion

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Recent Advances in Biopolymer Gels (2nd Edition)

edited by

Luis Morales-Quintana

and

Milton Vázquez-Lepe

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4492 | Submission Open

Keywords: synthesis and characterization of biodegradable biopolymers; approaches for biodegradable biopolymers (wastewater treatment); biodegradable biopolymeric material with properties of detoxification; bioremediation; or bio-absorption; biopolymer gels in the food industry; biopolymer gels for controlled release

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

State-of-the Art Gel Research in USA

edited by

Esmaiel Jabbari

and

Nasim Annabi

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3419 | Submission Open

Keywords: gels; chemistry; physics; characterization; processing; applications

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Gel-Based Materials for Sensing and Monitoring

edited by

Xiao Li

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3402 | Submission Open

Keywords: gel-based materials; wearable sensors; stimuli-responsive gels; self-healing materials; biocompatibility; real-time monitoring

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Advanced Gels in the Food System

edited by Xiaokang Na, Wuchao Ma and

Zihao Wei

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3229 | Submission Open

Keywords: protein hydrogels; polysaccharide gels; nanogels; oleogels; food texture improvement; sustainable food development

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Conductive Gels: Preparation, Properties and Applications

edited by

Konstantin Milakin

and

Pavel Gurikov

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2300 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogels; aerogels; cryogels; composites; electronic conductivity; conducting polymers; carbon materials; conducting fillers; self-healing; stimuli-responsive behavior; sensors; energy storage; drug delivery; water purification

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Recent Advances in Multi-Material Hydrogel Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting

edited by

Jiannan Li

and

Xin Jing

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2026 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioprinting; multi-material bioink; biomaterials; hydrogel; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; flexible wearable devices; health monitoring

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Safety of Aerogel Materials

edited by

Zhi Li

and

Changcheng Liu

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1583 | Submission Open

Keywords: aerogels; safety; safety characteristics; thermal safety; environmental impacts; process safety; occupational health risks; lifecycle assessment; safety applications

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Hydrogels with Appropriate/Tunable Properties for Biomedical Applications (3rd Edition)

edited by

Yanyu Yang

Yazhong Bu

and Feifei Sun

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1386 | Submission Open

Keywords: functional hydrogels; biomedical applications; adhesives; smart hydrogels; medical devices; health diagnosis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Aerogels: Promising Materials for Environmental Applications

edited by

Islam Minisy

and

Durga Parajuli

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1212 | Submission Open

Keywords: aerogels; bio-based aerogels; environmental applications; adsorption; wastewater; decontamination; heavy metals; rare and precious metals; pharmaceuticals; personal care products; persistent organic pollutants; CO2 sequestration; photocatalysis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Functional Hydrogels: Design, Processing and Biomedical Applications

edited by

Jianhao Wang

and

Cheng Wang

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1186 | Submission Open

Keywords: functional hydrogels; biomedical applications; drug delivery systems; tissue engineering; 3D bioprinting; stimuli-responsive materials; regenerative medicine

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Polymer Gels for Oil Recovery and Industry Applications

edited by Yinbo He,

Zheyu Liu

Yiqiang Li

and Jingyang Pu

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 866 | Submission Open

Keywords: polymer gel; polymer flooding; enhanced oil recovery; intelligent gel; temperature resistance; salt resistance; flow behavior

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Recent Advances in Multi-Functional Polymer-Based Hydrogels

edited by

Mustapha El Hariri El Nokab

and

Khaled Sebakhy

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 555 | Submission Open

Keywords: multi-functional polymer-based hydrogels; biomedicine; environmental science; soft robotics; mechanical strength; self-healing properties; stimuli-responsive behavior; conductivity; bioactivity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Application of Gel Dosimetry

edited by Gabriele Magugliani and Eros Mossini

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 434 | Submission Open

Keywords: radiotherapy; dosimetry; gel dosimetry; quality assurance; polymer gels; radiochromic gels; dosimetric phantom; radiation chemistry

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Design, Characterization and Applications of Smart Hydrogels

edited by Zhen Zhang and

Noureddine Abidi

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 414 | Submission Open

Keywords: smart hydrogels; design; characterization; application; self-healing; stimuli-responsive materials; environmental sensitivity; drug delivery; tissue engineering; sensors; actuators; reversible volume change; shape adaptability

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Novel Gels for 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering

edited by

Élida B. Hermida

and

Martin Federico Desimone

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 347 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioinks; bioprinting; biofabrication; printability; stimuli-responsive gels; rheology; tissue-engineering; 3D bioprinting

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Preparation, Structure-Property Relationships, and Applications of Emulsion Gels

edited by Peilong Li, Tongze Zhang, Saphwan Al-Assaf and

Liuping Fan

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 273 | Submission Open

Keywords: emulsion; gel; polymer; oil; rheology; interfacial phenomena; microstructure; food structuring; bioactive delivery

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Phase Transition and Behavior of Gels

edited by Mário Vale and

Beatriz Trindade Barrocas

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 231 | Submission Open

Keywords: gels; phase seperation; environmental remediation; catalysis; semiconductors; advanced materials

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Advanced Synthesis, Functionalization, and Applications of Lignin-Based Hydrogels

edited by Daochen Zhu

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 193 | Submission Open

Keywords: lignin hydrogels; functional biomaterials; structure– performance regulation; sustainable polymers; multifunctional applications

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Recent Progress and Advances in Conductive or Smart Functional Polymer Gels

edited by Hyunchul Ahn and

Seongcheol Kim

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 133 | Submission Open

Keywords: conducive gel; functional gel; smart gel and composites; hydrogel; biomedical gel; energy application; gel synthesis and design; gel modeling and characterization; scaffold and structure

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Advances in Implantable Gel-Based Materials for Cosmetic Applications

edited by Danny Soares,

Kausik Mukhopadhyay

and

Thomas Kean

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 122 | Submission Open

Keywords: hyaluronic acid (HA) gels; calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA); carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA); gel strength; resiliency; cohesion; viscoelasticity; mechanical properties; material biointegration; product migration; displacement; chronic edema; lymphatic dysfunction; inflammatory nodules; cold nodules; biofilm infections; arterioembolic injuries; next-generation dermal fillers; material-– tissue interactions; advanced filler technologies; regenerative aesthetics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Synthesis and Application of Aerogel (2nd Edition)

edited by Guanglei Zhang

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 107 | Submission Open

Keywords: aerogel; synthesis; property; application

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Advances in Engineering Emulsion Gels for Food Application

edited by

Sorina Ropciuc

and

Cristina Damian

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 72 | Submission Open

Keywords: food gels; hydrogels; emulgels; oleogels; natural biopolymers; food gel product design; functional food

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Gels for Oral, Maxillofacial, Dental Medicine or Cosmetic Use

edited by

Codruţa Saroși

and

Alexandrina Muntean

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 63 | Submission Open

Keywords: gel-based materials; oral; maxillofacial; and dental medicine; cosmetic; smart hydrogels; bioengineered gel-based systems

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Applications of Gels for Enhanced Oil Recovery

edited by Ming Qu, Mingguo Peng and Tuo Liang

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 10 articles | Viewed by 13545 | Submission Open

Keywords: enhanced oil recovery of gels; preparation and synthesis of innovative gels; environmentally friendly gels; percolation behaviors of gels; nanomaterials that improve gel properties; profile control and water plugging of gels; CCUS; shale oil; tight oil; low-permeability reservoir; conventional reservoir; fractured-vuggy reservoir; numerical simulation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Advances in Multi-Material Hydrogel for 3D Bioprinting

edited by Hatai Jongprasitkul, David A. Fulton and

Vijay Singh Parihar

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 131 | Submission Open

Keywords: 3D bioprinting; bioinks; multi-hydrogel system; hybrid hydrogels; self-healing hydrogels; dynamic hydrogels; photocrosslinking; rheology; tissue engineering

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Xerogels: Preparation, Properties and Applications

edited by

Guillermo Cruz-Quesada

and

Natalia Rey-Raap

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 115 | Submission Open

Keywords: synthesis of xerogels; sol– gel techniques; physicochemical characterization; synthesis parameters optimization; structure– properties relationship; xerogel applications; water treatment applications; heterogeneous catalysis; biocompatibility assessment; membrane preparation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Design of Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Controlled Molecule Release Applications

edited by

Florian E. Jurin

Cédric C. Buron

and

Arnaud Béduneau

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 32 | Submission Open

Keywords: controlled release; stimuli-responsive hydrogels; smart hydrogels; hydrogel-derived materials; drug delivery systems; injectable hydrogels; agrochemical delivery systems; sustained nutrient release; active packaging materials; environmentally friendly packaging

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Biosoursed and Bioinspired Gels for Biomedical Applications (2nd Edition)

edited by

Guilhem Godeau

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9518 | Submission Open

Keywords: biomacromolecules; hydrogel; low-molecular-weight gelator; 3D printing; drug delivery; self-healing; cell culture

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Application of Gel Technology in Food Industry and Environmental Engineering (2nd Edition)

edited by

Mihaela Ciopec

and

Cristina Paul

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7872 | Submission Open

Keywords: natural biopolymers; gelling agents; multi-component gels; food applications; sol– gel materials for environmental; electronic; and energy applications; specific pollutant removal techniques; specific materials and system of interest; advanced materials with applications in environmental engineering

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Hydrogel-Based Flexible Electronics and Devices

edited by

Paul Chesler

Mihai Anastasescu

and

Cristian Hornoiu

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3029 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogel applications; flexible devices; flexible electronics; wearable electronics; flexible biosensors; soft robotics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Designing Gels for Wound Dressing (2nd Edition)

edited by

Kannan Badri Narayanan

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 609 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogels; biopolymers; nanocomposite; antibacterial; wound healing; wound dressing; wound management

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Hydrogelated Matrices: Structural, Functional and Applicative Aspects (2nd Edition)

edited by

Carlo Diaferia

and

Enrico Gallo

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 165 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogelated matrices; supramolecular aggregates; peptide-based aggregates; hydrogels formulation and characterization; nanogels formulation and characterization; nanofibers; multicomponent gels; organogels; soft materials; biotechnological applications; supramolecular agents for bioimaging; active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) delivery; surfaces and coating

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Recent Advances in Aerogels and Aerogel Composites

edited by

Mu Du

, Xianbo Hou and Lin Guo

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9055 | Submission Open

Keywords: aerogel; aerogel composites; simulation; preparation and characterization techniques; applications

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Food Gels: Gelling Process and Innovative Applications

edited by

Xinyu Sun

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7558 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogel; packaging films; edible coatings; emulsions; bio-functionalization; structure and performance regulation; biomaterials

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Gels for Removal and Adsorption (3rd Edition)

edited by Shiyang Li,

Zhenxing Fang

and

Daxin Liang

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 3479 | Submission Open

Keywords: aerogels; hydrogels; membranes; films; adsorbents; removal; environmental science; novel gels; wastewater treatment; microplastic adsorption; drug adsorption/release; environmental catalysis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Food Gels: Gelling Process and New Applications

edited by Xin Du and

Fangfei Li

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1062 | Submission Open

Keywords: muscle food; biopolymers; protein; gelation properties; development of novel food gels

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Women’s Special Issue Series: Gels (2nd Edition)

edited by

Ecaterina Stela Dragan

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 989 | Submission Open

Keywords: supramolecular materials; nano-structured materials (particles; fibres; colloids; composites); nano- and macroporous materials (aerogels; organogels; metallogels; xerogels; cryogels; hydrogels); functional coatings; thin films; and membranes (including deposition techniques); development and characterization of sol– gel and hybrid materials; modelling; computational tools; and theoretical studies on gels; gel materials for biological and health (medical) applications; polymer gels; protein gels; and self-healing gels; sol– gel and hybrid materials with surface modifications for applications; devices based on sol– gel or hybrid materials; structure; dynamics; kinetics; and equilibrium thermodynamics in gel structures; biomimetic hydrogels as tissue engineering 3D scaffolds for mechanically supporting cells in the engineered tissues; and to simulate the native extracellular matrix

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Properties and Applications of Biomaterials Related to Gels (3rd Edition)

edited by

Shige Wang

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 769 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogel; hemostasis; cell cryopreservation; drug delivery; wound dressing

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Recent Developments in Nanocomposite Hydrogels

edited by

Fauze Ahmad Aouada

and

Marcia Regina de Moura Aouada

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 541 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogels; zeolite; nanoclay; nanoparticles; biodegradability; biocompatibility; innovative technology; natural polymers; controlled release; 3D printer

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Hydrogels, Microgels, and Nanogels: From Fundamentals to Applications (3rd Edition)

edited by

Valentina Nigro

and

Francesca Limosani

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 428 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogels; microgels; polymers; colloids; synthesis; characterization; applications; swelling; phase behaviour; stimuli-responsive

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Analysis and Characterization)

Hydrogels for Tissue Repair: Innovations and Applications

edited by Qi Chen

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 289 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogels; tissue repair; natural cell microenvironment; bone repair; cartilage repair; myocardial repair

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Environmentally Friendly Gels

edited by Hang Zhang,

Guiying Tian

and

Jinhui Wang

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 90 | Submission Open

Keywords: environmentally friendly gels; biodegradable aggregation; synthesis theory; multi-level polymer structures; ion mass transfer

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Processing and Engineering)

Gel Electrolytes and Supercapacitors

edited by Mobinul Islam and Andrey Dobrynin

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 71 | Submission Open

Keywords: gel electrolytes; energy storage; batteries; supercapacitors; ionic conductivity; electrochemical stability; sustainable materials

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Gel-Based Novel Wound Dressing (2nd Edition)

edited by

Sonia Kudłacik-Kramarczyk

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 54 | Submission Open

Keywords: hydrogel dressings; biological characterization; sorption properties; drug release; mechanical characteristics; antimicrobial activity; rheological properties

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

Gels for Adsorption and Separation

edited by

Hui Yang

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 46 | Submission Open

Keywords: gel materials; adsorption and separation; smart gel; efficiency; capacity; and selectivity; composition and structure of gels

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

State-of-the-Art Food Gels

edited by

Ewa Jakubczyk

and Anna Kaminska-Dworznicka

submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 38 | Submission Open

Keywords: food gels; starch; oleogels; food hydrocolloids; natural biopolymers; food texture and rheology; functional food; dried gels; aerated gels; gelling agents; 3D printing

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering

edited by