Next-Generation Hydrogels: Bridging Biology and Engineering for Medical Breakthroughs
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 1189
Special Issue Editors
Interests: hydrogels; controlled drug release; biomaterials characterization; biotribology; adsorption of biomolecules onto biomaterials; sterilization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biomaterial production and characterization; controlled drug release; mathematical models; surface morphology and topography; mechanical properties; tribology; hydrogels; dental materials; bone cements; ionic liquids; eco-friendly cements
Interests: biomaterial production and characterization; controlled drug release; mathematical models; surface morphology and topography; mechanical properties; tribology; hydrogels; dental materials; bone cements; ionic liquids; eco-friendly cements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, hydrogels have attracted considerable attention in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields due to their unparalleled versatility and functionality. In fact, the similarity of hydrogels to biological tissues due to their high water content, and the possibility of tailoring their properties and enhance cell interactions by choosing specific monomers and synthesis methods have elevated hydrogels to a leading position in biomaterial innovation. This Special Issue, "Next-Generation Hydrogels: Bridging Biology and Engineering for Medical Breakthroughs", seeks to highlight the latest innovations and research in this dynamic field. By integrating biological insights with engineering principles, researchers are developing hydrogels with enhanced properties that address critical challenges in medical applications. Key themes of this Special Issue include, among others, the following:
- Innovative design and synthesis: Exploration of novel materials and methods for hydrogel production, emphasizing biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional versatility.
- Responsive and smart hydrogels: Development of hydrogels capable of responding to environmental stimuli such as pH, temperature, and light, which open new avenues for controlled drug delivery and adaptive tissue scaffolds.
- Biomedical applications: Applications of hydrogels in areas such as tissue engineering, wound healing, regenerative medicine, and localized drug delivery. Focus on case studies demonstrating significant therapeutic outcomes.
- Interdisciplinary approaches: Insights from collaborative efforts between biologists, chemists, materials scientists, and engineers to push the boundaries of what hydrogels can achieve in medical science.
- Future directions and challenges: Discussion of the remaining challenges in hydrogel research, including scalability, regulatory hurdles, and long-term biocompatibility. Exploration of future trends and potential breakthroughs.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of hydrogels in medicine. By bringing together cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to pave the way for new medical breakthroughs that significantly enhance patient care and treatment outcomes, opening up possibilities for personalized medicine and innovative solutions to complex medical challenges. We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute their latest findings and join us in exploring the exciting possibilities that next-generation hydrogels offer.
Dr. Ana Paula Serro
Prof. Dr. Rogério Colaco
Dr. Ana Catarina Branco
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 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
- hydrogels design
- advanced characterization of materials
- biomedical applications of hydrogels
- hydrogel sterilization
- smart hydrogels
- biodegradable hydrogels
- in situ gelation
- multifunctional hydrogels
- drug delivery
- antimicrobial properties
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