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12.5
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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
New Perspectives in Hydrogel Design for Medicine and Biotechnology
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New Perspectives in Hydrogel Design for Medicine and Biotechnology

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 6680

Editors

Dr. Jagoda Kurowiak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Material and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technical Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, Licealna 9 Street, 65-417 Zielona Gora, Poland
Interests: biomaterials and polymers in medicine; implants and artificial organs; biomechanics tissue and tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; numerical methods and simulations of biological systems
Dr. Tomasz Klekiel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Material and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technical Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, Licealna 9 Street, 65-417 Zielona Gora, Poland
Interests: polymers; FEA numerical analysis in biological systems; tissue damage mechanisms; body fluid flow

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue entitled “New Perspectives in Hydrogel Design for Medicine and Biotechnology”, which aims to highlight the latest advances, challenges, and opportunities related to the development of hydrogel-based materials for biomedical and biotechnological applications. Hydrogels—particularly those derived from natural polymers such as sodium alginate, chitosan, and others—offer unique physicochemical and biological properties that are highly valuable in areas such as regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, and advanced wound care.

Rapid progress in polymer science, together with new strategies for chemical modification and material engineering, enables the design of hydrogel systems with enhanced functionality, responsiveness, and biocompatibility. Such materials are increasingly recognized as promising platforms for supporting tissue regeneration, delivering therapeutic agents, and creating innovative biomedical devices. Their tunable mechanical properties, high water content, and ability to act as carriers of active substances distinguish hydrogels from many traditional biomaterials.

This Special Issue welcomes innovative research and cutting-edge developments in the design, characterization, and application of hydrogel materials within medicine and biotechnology. We cordially invite researchers to submit original research articles, as well as comprehensive review papers, that present new insights, technological breakthroughs, and forward-looking perspectives in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Jagoda Kurowiak
Dr. Tomasz Klekiel
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics 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 2900 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
  • biomaterials
  • regenerative medicine
  • tissue engineering
  • drug delivery systems
  • polymer design
  • bioactive materials
  • biomedical applications

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 8363 KB  
Article
Evidence-Based Translational Strategy of Medicated Topical Gel for Diabetic Wound Management
by Poonam Pal, Santosh Kumar, Ankita Yadav, Salil Dubey, Sanchit Arora, Sanjay Kumar, Mayank Gangwar, Anurag Mishra, Amaresh Kumar Singh, Shreyans K. Jain, Ashish Kumar Agrawal, Satyanam Kumar Bhartiya and Sanjeev Kumar
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(4), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18040429 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1059
Abstract
Background: Chronic diabetic wounds represent substantial issues in healthcare due to their poor healing rate and susceptibility to hyperglycemia, infections, and other serious consequences. Methods: In this work, we developed a Medicated Topical Gel (MTG) that promotes healing of diabetic wounds. The MTG’s [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic diabetic wounds represent substantial issues in healthcare due to their poor healing rate and susceptibility to hyperglycemia, infections, and other serious consequences. Methods: In this work, we developed a Medicated Topical Gel (MTG) that promotes healing of diabetic wounds. The MTG’s distinctive qualities, including biocompatibility, stability, affordability, cost-effectiveness, and non-toxicity, were evaluated in a dermal toxicity assessment as well as a diabetic wound assay from 0 to the 24th day of the study. Results: MTG treatment significantly accelerated wound closure compared with other formulations. In vivo studies revealed that diabetic wounds in the rat model healed more rapidly within the 24-day study period when treated with MTG. Western blot analysis revealed a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory markers, accompanied by enhanced angiogenesis, which was further confirmed by histopathological observations. These findings indicate that MTG effectively promotes faster wound healing by modulating inflammation and stimulating blood vessel formation. Furthermore, clinical cases have demonstrated substantial wound healing, with most cases showing significant recovery on follow-up intervals at 15th and 30th day. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a strong evidence-based therapeutic potential of MTG as an effective treatment for chronic diabetic wounds healing. They also provide a promising strategy for wound management in both the experimental and clinical case studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Hydrogel Design for Medicine and Biotechnology)
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16 pages, 15162 KB  
Article
Facial Skin Density Enhancement Using Hyaluronic Acid—Based Bioactive Hydrogel: Cannula-Assisted Delivery and Ultrasound Evaluation in a Retrospective Controlled Study
by Lidia Majewska, Karolina Dorosz and Jacek Kijowski
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(5), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17050553 - 24 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4359
Abstract
Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA)–based bioactive hydrogels have emerged as multifunctional platforms for skin bioregeneration. While traditional mesotherapy using multicomponent substances has been widely practiced for improving skin quality, the time-consuming nature of this approach has led to exploration of alternative delivery methods. [...] Read more.
Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA)–based bioactive hydrogels have emerged as multifunctional platforms for skin bioregeneration. While traditional mesotherapy using multicomponent substances has been widely practiced for improving skin quality, the time-consuming nature of this approach has led to exploration of alternative delivery methods. Aims: This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness of an HA bioactive hydrogel-based bioregeneration system (containing non-stabilized hyaluronic acid and 14 bioactive ingredients) administered via cannula and its impact on facial skin density as assessed by ultrasound imaging. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of data from 20 female patients aged 30–42 years who received a single cannula-delivered injection of a bioactive hyaluronic acid hydrogel (TEOSYAL® Redensity [I]) in the midface region. The formulation combines the structural benefits of hyaluronic acid with the biochemical stimulation provided by amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Skin density was measured using high-frequency ultrasound at baseline, immediately post-procedure, and at 3–4 weeks follow-up. A control group of seven individuals received no treatment. Results: Ultrasound assessments revealed a statistically significant increase in skin density (92.7%, p < 0.001) within the treated area compared to no significant changes in the control group. This substantial improvement in dermal architecture demonstrates the efficacy of bioactive hydrogels in stimulating fibroblast function and extracellular matrix regeneration. Patient satisfaction was high, with 85% of patients reporting being satisfied or very satisfied. Side effects were minimal, with minor bruising (10%) and transient swelling (15%). Conclusions: Cannula-delivered bioactive hyaluronic acid hydrogel effectively enhances facial skin density with high patient satisfaction and minimal downtime, demonstrating the potential of advanced hydrogel formulations as multifunctional therapeutic platforms that extend beyond traditional applications into aesthetic and regenerative dermatology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Hydrogel Design for Medicine and Biotechnology)
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