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Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition)
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Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 7501

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lorenzo Bonetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAr), Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: hydrogels; gels; natural polymers; biopolymers; biomaterials; responsive polymers; smart polymers; cellulose; cellulose derivatives; materials characterization; rheology; scaffold; biomedical; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Laura Riva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milano, Italy
Interests: cellulose nanofibers; biopolymers; aerogels; advanced cellulose-based systems; applied chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Christian Demitri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: biomaterials; scaffold; tissue engineering; material characterization; viscoelasticity; hydrogels; green chemistry; natural polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cellulose is the most abundant natural biopolymer on Earth. With an estimated annual production of ~1.5 × 1012 tons globally and the possibility of its extraction even from waste sources, it is considered an almost inexhaustible source of raw material capable of making up for the growing demand for environmentally friendly and biocompatible products.

Within this framework, cellulose-based hydrogels usually combine hydrophilicity, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility together with low costs and massive availability, which make them extremely attractive in both academic and industrial fields. Potential application fields include biomedical engineering (e.g., tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, drug/cell delivery systems, 3D printing and bioprinting), progress in smart systems (e.g., sensors, actuators, soft robotics) and stimuli-responsive systems (e.g., pH- or thermo-responsive hydrogels), the agricultural sector (e.g., soil conditioning, nutrient carriers, water reservoirs), and water purification.

This Special Issue is aimed at collecting the recent progress in cellulose-based hydrogels, including gels prepared from natural cellulose and its derivatives, cellulose graft co-polymers, and composite gels based on cellulose. We encourage submissions covering key aspects of cellulose-based hydrogels, including design, characterization, as well as application-focused research.

As Guest Editors, we would kindly invite you to contribute a research paper or a review on any topic related to this thread.

Dr. Lorenzo Bonetti
Dr. Laura Riva
Dr. Christian Demitri
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

  • cellulose
  • nanocellulose
  • cellulose derivatives
  • cellulose-based composites
  • hydrogels
  • design
  • characterization
  • applications

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 9207 KiB  
Article
Arginine-Biofunctionalized Ternary Hydrogel Scaffolds of Carboxymethyl Cellulose–Chitosan–Polyvinyl Alcohol to Deliver Cell Therapy for Wound Healing
by Alexandra A. P. Mansur, Sandhra M. Carvalho, Ramayana M. de M. Brito, Nádia S. V. Capanema, Isabela de B. Duval, Marcelo E. Cardozo, José B. R. Rihs, Gabriela G. M. Lemos, Letícia C. D. Lima, Marina P. dos Reys, Ana P. H. Rodrigues, Luiz C. A. Oliveira, Marcos Augusto de Sá, Geovanni D. Cassali, Lilian L. Bueno, Ricardo T. Fujiwara, Zelia I. P. Lobato and Herman S. Mansur
Gels 2024, 10(11), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10110679 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 706
Abstract
Wound healing is important for skin after deep injuries or burns, which can lead to hospitalization, long-term morbidity, and mortality. In this field, tissue-engineered skin substitutes have therapy potential to assist in the treatment of acute and chronic skin wounds, where many requirements [...] Read more.
Wound healing is important for skin after deep injuries or burns, which can lead to hospitalization, long-term morbidity, and mortality. In this field, tissue-engineered skin substitutes have therapy potential to assist in the treatment of acute and chronic skin wounds, where many requirements are still unmet. Hence, in this study, a novel type of biocompatible ternary polymer hybrid hydrogel scaffold was designed and produced through an entirely eco-friendly aqueous process composed of carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol and chemically cross-linked by citric acid, forming three-dimensional (3D) matrices, which were biofunctionalized with L-arginine (L-Arg) to enhance cellular adhesion. They were applied as bilayer skin biomimetic substitutes based on human-derived cell cultures of fibroblasts and keratinocytes were seeded and grown into their 3D porous structures, producing cell-based bio-responsive hybrid hydrogel scaffolds to assist the wound healing process. The results demonstrated that hydrophilic hybrid cross-linked networks were formed via esterification reactions with the 3D porous microarchitecture promoted by foam templating and freeze-drying. These hybrids presented chemical stability, physicochemical properties, high moisture adsorption capacity, surface properties, and a highly interconnected 3D porous structure well suited for use as a skin substitute in wound healing. Additionally, the surface biofunctionalization of these 3D hydrogel scaffolds with L-arginine through amide bonds had significantly enhanced cellular attachment and proliferation of fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures. Hence, the in vivo results using Hairless mouse models (an immunocompromised strain) confirmed that these responsive bio-hybrid hydrogel scaffolds possess hemocompatibility, bioadhesion, biocompatibility, adhesiveness, biodegradability, and non-inflammatory behavior and are capable of assisting the skin wound healing process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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13 pages, 4287 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Properties of Grape Seed Extract-Enriched Cellulose Hydrogels for Potential Dental Application: In Vitro Assay, Cytocompatibility, and Biocompatibility
by Karla Lizette Tovar-Carrillo, Lizett Trujillo-Morales, Juan Carlos Cuevas-González, Judith Virginia Ríos-Arana, León Francisco Espinosa-Cristobal and Erasto Armando Zaragoza-Contreras
Gels 2024, 10(9), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10090606 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 692
Abstract
Hydrogels elaborated from Dasylirion spp. and enriched with grape seed extract (GSE) were investigated for tentative use in dental treatment. Cellulose-GSE hydrogels were elaborated with varying GSE contents from 10 to 50 wt%. The mechanical and physical properties, antimicrobial effect, biocompatibility, and in [...] Read more.
Hydrogels elaborated from Dasylirion spp. and enriched with grape seed extract (GSE) were investigated for tentative use in dental treatment. Cellulose-GSE hydrogels were elaborated with varying GSE contents from 10 to 50 wt%. The mechanical and physical properties, antimicrobial effect, biocompatibility, and in vitro cytotoxicity were studied. In all the cases, the presence of GSE affects the hydrogel’s mechanical properties. The elongation decreased from 12.67 mm for the hydrogel without GSE to 6.33 mm for the hydrogel with the highest GSE content. The tensile strength decrease was from 52.33 N/mm2 (for the samples without GSE) and went to 40 N/mm2 for the highest GSE content. Despite the adverse effects, hydrogels possess suitable properties for manipulation. In addition, all hydrogels exhibited excellent biocompatibility and no cytotoxicity, and the antibacterial performance was demonstrated against S. mutans, E. Faecalis, S. aureus, and P. aureginosa. Furthermore, the hydrogels with 30 wt% GSE inhibited more than 90% of the bacterial growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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13 pages, 7917 KiB  
Article
Upcycling Low-Quality Cotton Fibers into Mulch Gel Films in a Fast Closed Carbon Cycle
by Shaida S. Rumi, Sumedha Liyanage, Zhen Zhang and Noureddine Abidi
Gels 2024, 10(4), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10040218 - 23 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1399
Abstract
Low-quality cotton fibers, often overlooked as low-value materials, constitute a marginalized waste stream in the cotton industry. This study endeavored to repurpose these fibers into mulch gel films, specifically exploring their efficacy in covering moisture-controlled soil beds. Through a meticulously designed series of [...] Read more.
Low-quality cotton fibers, often overlooked as low-value materials, constitute a marginalized waste stream in the cotton industry. This study endeavored to repurpose these fibers into mulch gel films, specifically exploring their efficacy in covering moisture-controlled soil beds. Through a meticulously designed series of processing methods, cellulose/glycerol film was successfully fabricated by regenerating cellulose hydrogels in N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride solutions, followed by plasticization in glycerol/water solutions and hot pressing. The film was then employed to cover soil beds for a duration of up to 252 days, followed by soil burial assessments. Despite expectations of degradation, the film maintained structural integrity throughout the soil covering period but underwent complete biodegradation after 80 days of soil burial, thereby completing a closed carbon cycle. Intriguingly, both tensile strength and modulus exhibited no diminishment but instead increased after soil covering, contrary to expectations given the usual role of degradation. Mechanistic insights revealed that the removal of glycerol contributed to the mechanical enhancement, while microbial activity predominately decomposed the amorphous regions in soil covering and targeted the crystalline portions in soil burial, elucidating the main biodegradation mechanisms. In summary, this study presents, for the first time, the potential of upcycling low-quality cotton fibers into high-value mulch gel films for agricultural practices within a closed carbon cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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15 pages, 3665 KiB  
Article
Tailoring Hydrogel Structures: Investigating the Effects of Multistep Cellulose Defibrillation on Polyvinyl Alcohol Composites
by Gabriel Goetten de Lima, Bruno Bernardi Aggio, Alessandra Cristina Pedro, Tielidy A. de M. de Lima and Washington Luiz Esteves Magalhães
Gels 2024, 10(3), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10030212 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1243
Abstract
Defibrillating cellulose through various grinding steps and incorporating it into hydrogels introduces unique properties that warrant thorough exploration. This study investigates cellulose defibrillation at different steps (15–120) using an ultra-fine friction grinder, blended with high-molecular-weight polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and crosslinked via freeze–thawing. A [...] Read more.
Defibrillating cellulose through various grinding steps and incorporating it into hydrogels introduces unique properties that warrant thorough exploration. This study investigates cellulose defibrillation at different steps (15–120) using an ultra-fine friction grinder, blended with high-molecular-weight polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and crosslinked via freeze–thawing. A critical discovery is the influence of defibrillation on the hydrogel structure, as evidenced by reduced crystallinity, thermal degradation, and the enhanced swelling of PVA chains. Despite an increased elastic modulus of up to 120 steps, the synthesized material maintains remarkable strength under hydrated conditions, holding significant promise in biomaterial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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Review

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20 pages, 1695 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels Combined with Natural Colorants in Smart Food Packaging
by Lan Yang, Qian-Yu Yuan, Ching-Wen Lou, Jia-Horng Lin and Ting-Ting Li
Gels 2024, 10(12), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120755 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 303
Abstract
Due to the frequent occurrence of food safety problems in recent years, healthy diets are gradually receiving worldwide attention. Chemical pigments are used in smart food packaging because of their bright colors and high visibility. However, due to shortcomings such as carcinogenicity, people [...] Read more.
Due to the frequent occurrence of food safety problems in recent years, healthy diets are gradually receiving worldwide attention. Chemical pigments are used in smart food packaging because of their bright colors and high visibility. However, due to shortcomings such as carcinogenicity, people are gradually looking for natural pigments to be applied in the field of smart food packaging. In traditional smart food packaging, the indicator and the packaging bag substrate have different degrees of toxicity. Smart food packaging that combines natural colorants and cellulose-based hydrogels is becoming more and more popular with consumers for being natural, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and renewable. This paper reviews the synthesis methods and characteristics of cellulose-based hydrogels, as well as the common types and characteristics of natural pigments, and discusses the application of natural colorants and cellulose-based hydrogels in food packaging, demonstrating their great potential in smart food packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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20 pages, 8361 KiB  
Review
Bacterial Cellulose: A Sustainable Source for Hydrogels and 3D-Printed Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
by Elena Utoiu, Vasile Sorin Manoiu, Elena Iulia Oprita and Oana Craciunescu
Gels 2024, 10(6), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10060387 - 5 Jun 2024
Viewed by 2429
Abstract
Bacterial cellulose is a biocompatible biomaterial with a unique macromolecular structure. Unlike plant-derived cellulose, bacterial cellulose is produced by certain bacteria, resulting in a sustainable material consisting of self-assembled nanostructured fibers with high crystallinity. Due to its purity, bacterial cellulose is appealing for [...] Read more.
Bacterial cellulose is a biocompatible biomaterial with a unique macromolecular structure. Unlike plant-derived cellulose, bacterial cellulose is produced by certain bacteria, resulting in a sustainable material consisting of self-assembled nanostructured fibers with high crystallinity. Due to its purity, bacterial cellulose is appealing for biomedical applications and has raised increasing interest, particularly in the context of 3D printing for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Bacterial cellulose can serve as an excellent bioink in 3D printing, due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to mimic the collagen fibrils from the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissues. Its nanofibrillar structure provides a suitable scaffold for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation, crucial for tissue regeneration. Moreover, its mechanical strength and flexibility allow for the precise printing of complex tissue structures. Bacterial cellulose itself has no antimicrobial activity, but due to its ideal structure, it serves as matrix for other bioactive molecules, resulting in a hybrid product with antimicrobial properties, particularly advantageous in the management of chronic wounds healing process. Overall, this unique combination of properties makes bacterial cellulose a promising material for manufacturing hydrogels and 3D-printed scaffolds, advancing the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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