Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 301

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their three-dimensional hydrophilic network structure, multifunctional hydrogels are the focus of academic research regarding the application of functional materials to simulate human natural tissues. Because of their excellent permeability, water absorption, biocompatibility and biodegradability, multifunctional hydrogels offer a promising material in the field of biomedicine, especially in tissue engineering and drug delivery. However, many problems associated with the application of multifunctional hydrogels remain, such as their complex synthesis and poor structural stability. Therefore, research currently focuses on the construction of multifunctional hydrogels via the employment of novel designs and tackling the problems associated with their biomedical application. This Special Issue, entitled “Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition)”, will address the preparation, characterization, and application of multifunctional hydrogels in the biomedical field. In this Special Issue, we will discuss recent developments in multifunctional hydrogels, including new synthesis and cross-linking methods, characterization methods and biomedical applications. Although important advances in drug/unit delivery, tissue engineering and tissue repair have been made, further interdisciplinary endeavors are required to achieve a more detailed understanding of the structural interrelationships, properties and applications of multifunctional hydrogels. This will promote the personalized and customized development of multifunctional hydrogels, and promote their application in the treatment of various diseases.

Dr. Cheng Hu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • multifunctional hydrogels
  • novel preparation and characterization of hydrogel system
  • biomedical hydrogels
  • drug/cell delivery
  • tissue repair

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 2179 KiB  
Article
One-Pot Anodic Electrodeposition of Dual-Cation-Crosslinked Sodium Alginate/Carboxymethyl Chitosan Interpenetrating Hydrogel with Vessel-Mimetic Heterostructures
by Xuli Li, Yuqing Qu, Yong Zhang, Pei Chen, Siyu Ding, Miaomiao Nie, Kun Yan and Shefeng Li
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(7), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16070235 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 227
Abstract
This study develops a one-pot anodic templating electrodeposition strategy using dual-cation-crosslinking and interpenetrating networks, coupled with pulsed electrical signals, to fabricate a vessel-mimetic multilayered tubular hydrogel. Typically, the anodic electrodeposition is performed in a mixture of sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), [...] Read more.
This study develops a one-pot anodic templating electrodeposition strategy using dual-cation-crosslinking and interpenetrating networks, coupled with pulsed electrical signals, to fabricate a vessel-mimetic multilayered tubular hydrogel. Typically, the anodic electrodeposition is performed in a mixture of sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), with the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid calcium disodium salt hydrate (EDTA·Na2Ca) incorporated to provide a secondary ionic crosslinker (i.e., Ca2+) and modulate the cascade reaction diffusion process. The copper wire electrodes serve as templates for electrochemical oxidation and enable a copper ion (i.e., Cu2+)-induced tubular hydrogel coating formation, while pulsed electric fields regulate layer-by-layer deposition. The dual-cation-crosslinked interpenetrating hydrogels (CMC/SA-Cu/Ca) exhibit rapid growth rates and tailored mechanical strength, along with excellent antibacterial performance. By integrating the unique pulsed electro-fabrication with biomimetic self-assembly, this study addresses challenges in vessel-mimicking structural complexity and mechanical compatibility. The approach enables scalable production of customizable multilayered hydrogels for artificial vessel grafts, smart wound dressings, and bioengineered organ interfaces, demonstrating broad biomedical potential. Full article
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