Innovative Approaches of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels: Development, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1347

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Protection of the Environment, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, 700050 Iaşi, Romania
Interests: biomaterials; hydrogels; drug delivery; drug release; bioactive compounds
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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Interests: cutaneous drug delivery; oral modified drug delivery systems; matrix solid dosage forms; nanoparticles as drug delivery systems; cosmetics and dermatocosmetics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, “Innovative Approaches of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels: Development, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications”, analyzes the latest advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of hydrogels derived from biopolymers. These natural polymers, which include polysaccharides and proteins, are becoming increasingly important in the biomedical field. Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks that can absorb substantial quantities of water or biological fluids and are obtained by the chemical or physical cross-linking of the polymer chains. Due to their high water content, porosity, and soft texture, they simulate natural living tissue, making them a top choice among synthetic materials. Their growing popularity is attributed mainly to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and their ability to tailor their properties for specific uses, making them a compelling choice for a wide range of applications.

Various types of hydrogels are available for biomedical applications, including pH-sensitive hydrogels, thermogels, electro-sensitive hydrogels, and light-sensitive hydrogels, which could be used in the field of drug delivery or regenerative medicine.

A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to better understand the properties of these biomaterials that are based on hydrogels and are used in biomedical applications, as well as understanding their interactions with cells and biological tissues. This approach can cover various topics such as synthesizing biopolymer-based hydrogels, hydrogel structure, interactions of macromolecules with biological tissue, properties of biomaterials used for specific biomedical applications such as drug delivery, cell carriers and entrapment, wound management, and tissue engineering. We encourage the submission of both original articles and review articles.

Dr. Camelia Elena Iurciuc-Tincu
Prof. Dr. Lacramioara Ochiuz
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • hydrogels
  • biopolymer
  • sensitive hydrogels
  • functional hydrogels
  • biomaterials
  • synthetic materials
  • drug delivery
  • cell carrier
  • tissue engineering

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

51 pages, 8996 KB  
Article
Development of an Innovative Nanosystem Based on Functionalized Albumin and Oxidized Gellan for the Synergistic Delivery of Curcumin and Temozolomide in the Treatment of Brain Cancer
by Camelia Elena Iurciuc (Tincu), Gabriela Vochița, Daniela Gherghel, Cosmin-Teodor Mihai, Silvia Vasiliu, Ștefania Racoviță, Anca Niculina Cadinoiu, Corina Lenuța Logigan, Mihaela Hamcerencu, Florin Mitu, Marcel Popa and Lăcrămioara Ochiuz
Gels 2025, 11(9), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11090708 - 3 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Treating brain cancer remains challenging due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the systemic toxicity of chemotherapy. This study focuses on developing human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles modified with low-molecular-weight protamine (LMWP) to improve crossing the BBB and enable targeted delivery of curcumin [...] Read more.
Treating brain cancer remains challenging due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the systemic toxicity of chemotherapy. This study focuses on developing human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles modified with low-molecular-weight protamine (LMWP) to improve crossing the BBB and enable targeted delivery of curcumin and temozolomide (TMZ). Nanoparticle stability was enhanced by crosslinking with aldehyde groups from oxidized gellan (OG). The successful attachment of LMWP to HSA at the thiol group of Cys34 was confirmed through FT-IR and 1H-NMR analyses. Most self-assembled nanoparticles were smaller than 200 nm in diameter. Curcumin showed higher encapsulation efficiency than TMZ. In vitro drug release was pH-dependent: curcumin released more at pH 7.4, while TMZ release was better at pH 4. Higher crosslinking degrees reduced drug release. Cytotoxicity assays on V79-4 (normal) and C6 (glioma) cell lines showed increased apoptosis and significantly lower IC50 values for co-encapsulated formulations, indicating a synergistic effect. Curcumin’s antioxidant activity was maintained and protected from UV degradation by the polymer matrix. The parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) confirmed that the functionalized formulations with co-encapsulated drugs could cross the BBB. Hemocompatibility studies indicated a favorable profile for intravenous use. Full article
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11 pages, 2908 KB  
Article
On the Conditions Determining the Formation of Self-Crosslinking Chitosan Hydrogels with Carboxylic Acids
by Nils Münstermann and Oliver Weichold
Gels 2025, 11(5), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050333 - 29 Apr 2025
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Abstract
The formation of self-crosslinking chitosan hydrogels using carboxylic acids has a number of limitations. Chitosan dissolves in oxalic, malonic, and succinic acids at a ratio of 1 amino group to 2 carboxyl groups into viscous solutions (G′ < G′′), but does not dissolve [...] Read more.
The formation of self-crosslinking chitosan hydrogels using carboxylic acids has a number of limitations. Chitosan dissolves in oxalic, malonic, and succinic acids at a ratio of 1 amino group to 2 carboxyl groups into viscous solutions (G′ < G′′), but does not dissolve with lower amounts of the acid. Mixing chitosan hydrochloride with disodium carboxylates does not afford gels, but only a coacervate in the case of disodium oxalate, which dissolves upon dialysis. In the homologous series of N-carboxyalkyl derivatives (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, propyl), all members form gels (G′ > G′′). At approx. 50% of substitution, the storage modulus increases from 40 Pa (methyl) to 30,000 Pa (propyl) indicating the increasing strength of intermolecular interactions with the increasing length of the alkyl spacer. This could indicate that a sufficiently long spacer is required to properly connect the chitosan helices. N-succinyl chitosan, where the spacer is attached to the backbone as an amide, also forms polymer gels across all degrees of N-acylation. When compared to N-carboxypropyl chitosan, the latter forms significantly stiffer gels that swell less. This indicates that one covalent bond, a sufficient length, and the conformational flexibility of the spacer are important for gelation. Full article
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