Functional Hydrogels for Advanced Health Monitoring Systems
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 61
Special Issue Editor
Interests: stimuli-responsive polymers; hydrogels; wearables; health monitoring; colorimetric sensors; anti-counterfeiting; biosensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hydrogels are transformative materials for next-generation health monitoring, offering unmatched biocompatibility, stimuli-responsive behavior, and tunable mechanical/chemical properties that enable seamless integration with biological tissues. This Special Issue in Gels seeks cutting-edge research and reviews on the design, synthesis, and functionalization of hydrogels specifically engineered for real-time physiological tracking and diagnostic applications. We welcome contributions exploring novel hydrogel architectures (e.g., double-network, nanocomposite, or supramolecular) with enhanced conductivity, self-healing, or adhesive properties. Dynamic sensing mechanisms leverage pH, temperature, biomarkers, pressure, and strain for monitoring metabolites (glucose and lactate), electrolytes, or vital signs (ECG, motion). Advanced fabrication techniques (3D bioprinting, microneedle arrays, and injectable formulations) enable non-invasive or minimally invasive deployment. Integration strategies for wearable/implantable sensors emphasize signal stability, biocompatibility, and power efficiency. Manuscripts addressing scalability, long-term stability in vivo, clinical validation, or AI-driven data analysis are encouraged. This Special Issue aims to bridge materials science with translational healthcare, accelerating the development of functional hydrogels for personalized diagnostics and proactive medicine.
Dr. Fei Han
Guest Editor
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels 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 2100 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
- hydrogel
- physiological signal monitoring
- conductivity
- self-healing
- adhesive properties
- sensors
- wearable
- diagnostic applications
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