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Gels
Special Issues
Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Gels
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Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Gels

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 3827

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kalliopi Dodou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
Interests: hydrogels; gels; transdermal; dosage form design; skin patches; cosmetic; pharmaceutical

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The continuous advancement and better understanding of the technologies involved in the synthesis and formulation of gels have enabled the development of novel gel systems with diverse applications. Gel systems, such as nanogels, smart gels, hydrogels, organogels, etc., all have pharmaceutical applications.

I would like to provide a platform for scholars in related fields to collect and submit their latest research to this Special Issue, which encompasses the synthesis, optimization parameters, drug loading and release mechanisms, formulation and manufacturing considerations, and quality control monitoring properties of all types of gel systems that are either at research and development (R&D) stage, serving as pharmaceutical systems or already-established drug delivery systems.

I am looking forward to receiving your submissions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Kalliopi Dodou
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

  • gel
  • hydrogel
  • nanogel
  • microgel
  • pharmaceutical
  • drug delivery
  • drug targeting

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2270 KiB  
Article
Effects of Temperature and Time on the Denaturation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 and Cytokines from Bovine Platelet-Rich Gel Supernatants
by Jorge U. Carmona and Catalina López
Gels 2024, 10(9), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10090583 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 901
Abstract
There is a lack of information about transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and cytokines contained in pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP) and release from pure-platelet-rich gel supernatants (P-PRGS) might be affected by the temperature and time factors; P-PRP from 6 heifers was [...] Read more.
There is a lack of information about transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and cytokines contained in pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP) and release from pure-platelet-rich gel supernatants (P-PRGS) might be affected by the temperature and time factors; P-PRP from 6 heifers was activated with calcium gluconate. Thereafter, P-PRG and their supernatants (P-PRGS) were maintained at −80, −20, 4, 21, and 37 °C and collected at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 144, 192, 240, and 280 h for subsequent determination of TGF-β1, tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-6; TGF-β1 concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in PRGS maintained at 21 and 37 °C when compared to PRGS maintained at 4, −20, and −80 °C; PRGS TNF-α concentrations were not influenced by temperature and time factors. However, PRGS maintained at 4 °C showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations when compared to PRGS maintained at −20, and −80 °C at 144, and 192 h. IL-6 concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in PRGS stored at −20, and −80 over the first 48 h and at 10 days when compared to PRGS stored at 4, 21, and 37 °C. These results could suggest that P-PRP/P-PRGS could be maintained and well preserved for at least 12 days at room temperature for clinical use in bovine therapeutic massive protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Gels)
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13 pages, 7025 KiB  
Article
Encapsulation of HRP-Immobilized Silica Particles into Hollow-Type Spherical Bacterial Cellulose Gel: A Novel Approach for Enzyme Reactions within Cellulose Gel Capsules
by Toru Hoshi, Masashige Suzuki and Takao Aoyagi
Gels 2024, 10(8), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10080516 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1214
Abstract
We revealed that the encapsulation of enzyme-immobilized silica particles in hollow-type spherical bacterial cellulose (HSBC) gels enables the use of the inside of HSBC gels as a reaction field. The encapsulation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-immobilized silica particles (Si-HRPs, particle size: 40–50 μm) within [...] Read more.
We revealed that the encapsulation of enzyme-immobilized silica particles in hollow-type spherical bacterial cellulose (HSBC) gels enables the use of the inside of HSBC gels as a reaction field. The encapsulation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-immobilized silica particles (Si-HRPs, particle size: 40–50 μm) within HSBC gels was performed by using a BC gelatinous membrane produced at the interface between Komagataeibacter xylinus suspension attached onto an alginate gel containing Si-HRPs and silicone oil. After the biosynthesis of the BC gelatinous membrane, formed from cellulose nanofiber networks, the alginate gel was removed via immersion in a phosphate-buffered solution. Si-HRP encapsulated HSBC gels were reproducibly produced using our method with a yield of over 90%. The pore size of the network structure of the BC gelatinous membrane was less than 1 μm, which is significantly smaller than the encapsulated Si-HRPs. Consequently, the encapsulated Si-HRPs could neither pass through the BC gelatinous membrane nor leak from the interior cavity of the HSBC gel. The activity of the encapsulated HRPs was detected using the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-H2O2 system, demonstrating that this method can encapsulate the enzyme without inactivation. Since HSBC gels are composed of a network structure of biocompatible cellulose nanofibers, immune cells cannot enter the hollow interior, thus, the enzyme-immobilized particles encapsulated inside the HSBC gel are protected from immune-cell attacks. The encapsulation technique demonstrated in this study is expected to facilitate the delivery of enzymes and catalysts that are not originally present in the in vivo environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Gels)
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Graphical abstract

13 pages, 2231 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Effects of Two COX-2 Selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on the Release of Growth Factors and Cytokines from Canine Platelet-Rich Gel Supernatants
by Julián Ospina, Jorge U. Carmona and Catalina López
Gels 2024, 10(6), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10060396 - 12 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1170
Abstract
(1) Background: There is a lack of knowledge about how a single dose of COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might affect the release of growth factors (GFs) and cytokines from canine platelet-rich gels (PRGs) and other hemocomponents. (2) Methods: A crossover study [...] Read more.
(1) Background: There is a lack of knowledge about how a single dose of COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might affect the release of growth factors (GFs) and cytokines from canine platelet-rich gels (PRGs) and other hemocomponents. (2) Methods: A crossover study was conducted in six adult mongrel dogs. Animals were randomized to receive a single dose of either carprofen or firocoxib. PRG, temperature-induced platelet lysate (TIPL), chemically induced PL (CIPL), and plasma hemocomponents were obtained from each dog before (1 h) and after (6 h) the treatments. Platelet and leukocyte counts and determination of the concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor-BB, (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10 concentrations were assayed by ELISA in all hemocomponents. (3) Results: Both platelet and leukocyte counts and PDGF-BB concentrations were not affected by NSAIDs and time. Total TGF-β1 concentrations were not affected by NSAIDs; however, the release of this GF was increased in PRG supernatants (PRGS) at 6 h. IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in both firocoxib PRGS and plasma at 6 h, respectively. IL-10 concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) lower at 6 h in all hemocomponents treated with both NSAIDs. (4) Conclusions: The clinical implications of our findings could indicate that these drugs should be withdrawn from patients to allow their clearance before the clinical use of PRP/PRG. On the other hand, the prophylactic use of NSAIDs to avoid the inflammatory reactions that some patients might have after PRP/PRG treatment should be performed only in those animals with severe reactive inflammation to the treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Gels)
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