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Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Their Application in Drug Delivery and Tissue...
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Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Their Application in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 3690

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gustavo Cabrera Barjas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sciences for Healthcare Nutrition and Dietetica School, Universidad San Sebastián, Campus Las Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: hydrogels; polysaccharides; biopolymers; polyphenols; biocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jomarien García-Couce

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biomaterials Center, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
Interests: hydrogels; biopolymers; drug delivery; biomaterials; tissue engineering; cartilage tissue

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels are one of the most investigated materials for different applications in the biomedical field. They possess a highly hydrated three-dimensional polymeric network and can mimic the chemical, physical, electrical and biological properties of tissues. Hydrogels have been used as wound dressings, hygiene products, adhesives and in tissue engineering. They are also crucial for the controlled release of bioactive molecules. Recent advances in these materials include the development of nanocomposite hydrogels, which result from the combination of nanoparticles of different nature (polymeric, inorganic/ceramic, metallic, etc.) with the polymeric network, achieving hydrogels reinforced with these nanostructures that exhibit enhanced physicochemical and biological properties. These emerging trends aim to achieve advanced hydrogels designed with tunable properties not commonly found in polymers.

This Special Issue aims to report on recent research and advances in the design, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite hydrogels. The potential of these hydrogels in biomedicine will be highlighted, especially in areas such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cell culture, and drug delivery systems. This issue invites original research articles and reviews on the recent advances and challenges in this field of knowledge.

Dr. Gustavo Cabrera Barjas
Dr. Jomarien García-Couce
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • nanocomposite hydrogels
  • nanomaterials
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • drug delivery
  • cell culture

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 6292 KiB  
Article
Gold Nanoparticle-Based Hydrogel: Application in Anticancer Drug Delivery and Wound Healing In Vitro
by Varshan Gounden and Moganavelli Singh
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(5), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17050633 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 55
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Due to the challenges faced by anticancer therapeutics, such as poor selectivity and metabolic degradation, novel delivery systems are needed to mitigate the adverse effects of chemotherapy. The management of chronic wounds is often overlooked and affects patients mentally and physically. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Due to the challenges faced by anticancer therapeutics, such as poor selectivity and metabolic degradation, novel delivery systems are needed to mitigate the adverse effects of chemotherapy. The management of chronic wounds is often overlooked and affects patients mentally and physically. The application of hydrogels can reduce deficiencies in drug delivery and wound healing due to their similarity to the extracellular matrix and stimuli-responsive properties. Methods: A chitosan (CS) hydrogel, cross-linked to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), followed by the encapsulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), was formulated. The physicochemical properties, drug release profiles, cytotoxicity, and wound healing in vitro were analyzed. Results: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a UV-visible peak at 530 nm confirmed their successful synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical NPs of 89.31 nm, while scanning electron microscopy confirmed the porous network surface of the hydrogels. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated enhanced stability for the CS-Au hydrogel, while a non-Newtonian shear-thinning property was evident from rheology. Drug release showed a sustained, pH-dependent release with specificity for the acidic cancer microenvironment. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated a specificity of the CS-Au-5-FU hydrogel for the cancer cells (HeLa and MCF-7) and diminished cytotoxicity in the non-cancer cells (HEK293). The scratch assay illustrated a complete closure of the wounds in HEK293 cells at low concentrations (15.63 and 31.25 µg/mL). Conclusions: The positive findings from this study confirm the potential of these CS-Au hydrogels to function as smart in vitro delivery systems and scaffolds for wound healing, warranting additional optimizations and in vivo studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Their Application in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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19 pages, 8416 KiB  
Article
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Filled Hydrogel Beads for the Delivery of Curcumin: Digestion, Intestinal Permeation, and Antioxidant Bioactivity After Gastrointestinal Digestion
by Rui Sun, Chenyu Wei, Xiaoyan Tang, Yufeng Sun and Juling Ji
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(5), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17050541 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 330
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-filled hydrogel beads for the delivery of curcumin in functional foods. Methods: Curcumin-loaded NLC-filled hydrogel beads based on calcium alginate were developed using the extrusion method. Various preparation parameters, physicochemical [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-filled hydrogel beads for the delivery of curcumin in functional foods. Methods: Curcumin-loaded NLC-filled hydrogel beads based on calcium alginate were developed using the extrusion method. Various preparation parameters, physicochemical characteristics, gastrointestinal fates, and antioxidant bioactivities were studied to confirm the feasibility of this delivery system. Results: Curcumin-loaded NLCs were successfully filled into hydrogel beads with an encapsulation efficiency above 80%. The stability test displayed that the stability of curcumin encapsulated within NLCs was further enhanced when the NLCs were filled into beads. During in vitro digestion, the lipolysis rate of the lipid matrix and the release rate of curcumin encapsulated in NLCs were adjusted by the hydrogel beads. The ex vivo intestinal permeation study indicated that the intestinal permeation of curcumin from the digestion products of curcumin-loaded NLC-hydrogel beads, prepared with appropriate alginate concentrations (0.5% and 1%), was significantly enhanced compared to that of curcumin-loaded NLCs. Furthermore, the digestion products of curcumin-loaded NLC-hydrogel beads (1% alginate) exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant bioactivity compared to those of curcumin-loaded NLCs. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NLC-hydrogel beads might be a promising delivery system for hydrophobic bioactive compounds in functional food systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Their Application in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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24 pages, 7095 KiB  
Article
Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC)-Based Topical Formulation of Hesperidin for Effective Treatment of Psoriasis
by Anita Rani, Rajwinder Kaur, Afaf Aldahish, Rajalakshimi Vasudevan, Prasanalakshmi Balaji, Chander Parkash Dora, Balakumar Chandrasekaran, Thakur Gurjeet Singh and Rahul Sharma
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040478 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 569
Abstract
Background: Various routes of drug administration are available for psoriasis treatment. However, there is an urgent need for novel and improved therapeutic options. Hence, our study aimed to develop a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) gel of hesperidin (HPD) using a systemic QbD approach [...] Read more.
Background: Various routes of drug administration are available for psoriasis treatment. However, there is an urgent need for novel and improved therapeutic options. Hence, our study aimed to develop a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) gel of hesperidin (HPD) using a systemic QbD approach for an effective treatment of psoriasis. Methods: Initially, HPD-NLC was optimized with independent variables (drug content, amount of liquid lipid, total lipid, and surfactant concentration) using Box–Behnken Design to assess dependent variables (particle size, size distribution, and entrapment efficiency). HPD-NLC was developed using the high-shear homogenization technique. The characteristics of nanoformulation such as particle size, morphology [transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)], crystallinity [powder X-ray diffraction (XRD)], and chemical interactions [Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)], the drug entrapment efficiency (%EE), and the drug release were investigated. Franz-diffusion cell was utilized to perform in vitro diffusion study, and an imiquimod-induced psoriasis model was used for in vivo study. Results: The optimized HPD-NLC exhibited a spherical shape with particle size of 125.7 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.36, and entrapment efficiency of 52.26% w/w. Further, different techniques validated the reduced crystallinity of the hesperidin. The in vitro diffusion study highlighted the sustained and anomalous diffusion of the drug from NLC gel. In the in vivo study, the HPD-NLC-Gel-treated group displayed normal skin with minimal keratosis, while the drug-loaded gel group exhibited signs of hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis signs. Conclusions: HPD-NLC gel showed promising advancement in nanotechnology-based psoriasis treatment and the results of this study open the door for the application of topical HPD-NLC-Gel clinically. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Their Application in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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17 pages, 4917 KiB  
Article
Engineered Exosomes Biopotentiated Hydrogel Promote Hair Follicle Growth via Reprogramming the Perifollicular Microenvironment
by Hairui Zhang, Jiali Yao, Qianyang Jiang, Yurou Shi, Weihong Ge and Xiaoling Xu
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(7), 935; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16070935 - 13 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1662
Abstract
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a highly prevalent condition in contemporary society. The conventional treatment of minoxidil tincture is hindered by issues such as skin irritation caused by ethanol, non-specific accumulation in hair follicles, and short retention due to its liquid form. Herein, we [...] Read more.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a highly prevalent condition in contemporary society. The conventional treatment of minoxidil tincture is hindered by issues such as skin irritation caused by ethanol, non-specific accumulation in hair follicles, and short retention due to its liquid form. Herein, we have developed a novel minoxidil-incorporated engineered exosomes biopotentiated hydrogel (Gel@MNs) that has the capability to modulate the perifollicular microenvironment for the treatment of AGA. Leveraging the exceptional skin penetration abilities of flexible liposomes and the targeting properties of exosomes, the encapsulated minoxidil can be effectively delivered to the hair follicles. In comparison to free minoxidil, Gel@MNs demonstrated accelerated hair regeneration in an AGA mouse model without causing significant skin irritation. This was evidenced by an increase in both the number and size of hair follicles within the dermal layer, enhanced capillary formation surrounding the follicles, and the regulation of the transition of hair follicle cells from the telogen phase to the anagen growth phase. Therefore, this safe and microenvironment-modifying hybrid exosome-embedded hydrogel shows promising potential for clinical treatment of AGA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Their Application in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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