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Gels
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Advances in Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Based Composites
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Advances in Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Based Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 6852

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gi Doo Cha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Interests: hydrogel nanocomposite; biomedical application; bioelectronics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels have garnered significant attention due to their ultra-high softness and deformable properties. These advantages have highlighted their potential as a biointerface or matrix for bioplatforms. However, conventional polymeric hydrogels often suffer from mechanical weakness and a lack of intrinsic functionality, limiting their potential applications. To address this issue, researchers have explored various approaches, including modifying the chemical structures of the backbone polymer of the hydrogel or utilizing multiple backbone polymer networks, to impart additional functions or enhance their inherent characteristics.

Another promising approach involves incorporating various types of auxiliary filler materials into bare hydrogels. These hydrogel composites obtain additional features from the filler materials while retaining their orginial advantageous characteristics. Examples include stimul-responsive behavior, theranostic functions, and electrochemical properties, all of which hold great promise for various biomedical applications. Currently, extensive efforts are underway to develop new hydrogel formulations, implement integrated hydrogel composites, and expand their applications.

This Special Issue is dedicated to showcasing the recent developments in both bare hydrogels and hydrogel composites with high performance and multifunctionality. Furthermore, we welcome contributions that highlight application examples of hydrogel-based systems tailored to specific fields or that pave the way for new fields of study.

Dr. Gi Doo Cha
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
  • nanocomposites
  • biocomposites
  • soft material
  • biomaterial
  • biomedical application

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4459 KiB  
Article
Patterned PVA Hydrogels with 3D Petri Dish® Micro-Molds of Varying Topography for Spheroid Formation of HeLa Cancer Cells: In Vitro Assessment
by Maira Moreno Valtierra, Adriana Urue Corral, Jorge Armando Jiménez-Avalos, Erika Barbosa Avalos, Judith Dávila-Rodríguez, Norma Morales Hernández, Mauricio Comas-García, Guillermo Toriz González, Antonio Oceguera-Villanueva, José Alfonso Cruz-Ramos, Rodolfo Hernández Gutiérrez, Moisés Martínez Velázquez and Zaira Yunuen García Carvajal
Gels 2024, 10(8), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10080518 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1525
Abstract
Cell spheroids are an important three-dimensional (3D) model for in vitro testing and are gaining interest for their use in clinical applications. More natural 3D cell culture environments that support cell–cell interactions have been created for cancer drug discovery and therapy applications, such [...] Read more.
Cell spheroids are an important three-dimensional (3D) model for in vitro testing and are gaining interest for their use in clinical applications. More natural 3D cell culture environments that support cell–cell interactions have been created for cancer drug discovery and therapy applications, such as the scaffold-free 3D Petri Dish® technology. This technology uses reusable and autoclavable silicone micro-molds with different topographies, and it conventionally uses gelled agarose for hydrogel formation to preserve the topography of the selected micro-mold. The present study investigated the feasibility of using a patterned Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel using the circular topography 12–81 (9 × 9 wells) micro-mold to form HeLa cancer cell spheroids and compare them with the formed spheroids using agarose hydrogels. PVA hydrogels showed a slightly softer, springier, and stickier texture than agarose hydrogels. After preparation, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed chemical interactions through hydrogen bonding in the PVA and agarose hydrogels. Both types of hydrogels favor the formation of large HeLa spheroids with an average diameter of around 700–800 µm after 72 h. However, the PVA spheroids are more compact than those from agarose, suggesting a potential influence of micro-mold surface chemistry on cell behavior and spheroid formation. This was additionally confirmed by evaluating the spheroid size, morphology, integrity, as well as E-cadherin and Ki67 expression. The results suggest that PVA promotes stronger cell-to-cell interactions in the spheroids. Even the integrity of PVA spheroids was maintained after exposure to the drug cisplatin. In conclusion, the patterned PVA hydrogels were successfully prepared using the 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds, and they could be used as suitable platforms for studying cell–cell interactions in cancer drug therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Based Composites)
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Review

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20 pages, 9905 KiB  
Review
Biomedical Application of Enzymatically Crosslinked Injectable Hydrogels
by Minho Nam, Jong Won Lee and Gi Doo Cha
Gels 2024, 10(10), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10100640 - 7 Oct 2024
Viewed by 955
Abstract
Hydrogels have garnered significant interest in the biomedical field owing to their tissue-like properties and capability to incorporate various fillers. Among these, injectable hydrogels have been highlighted for their unique advantages, especially their minimally invasive administration mode for implantable use. These injectable hydrogels [...] Read more.
Hydrogels have garnered significant interest in the biomedical field owing to their tissue-like properties and capability to incorporate various fillers. Among these, injectable hydrogels have been highlighted for their unique advantages, especially their minimally invasive administration mode for implantable use. These injectable hydrogels can be utilized in their pristine forms or as composites by integrating them with therapeutic filler materials. Given their primary application in implantable platforms, enzymatically crosslinked injectable hydrogels have been actively explored due to their excellent biocompatibility and easily controllable mechanical properties for the desired use. This review introduces the crosslinking mechanisms of such hydrogels, focusing on those mediated by horseradish peroxidase (HRP), transglutaminase (TG), and tyrosinase. Furthermore, several parameters and their relationships with the intrinsic properties of hydrogels are investigated. Subsequently, the representative biomedical applications of enzymatically crosslinked-injectable hydrogels are presented, including those for wound healing, preventing post-operative adhesion (POA), and hemostasis. Furthermore, hydrogel composites containing filler materials, such as therapeutic cells, proteins, and drugs, are analyzed. In conclusion, we examine the scientific challenges and directions for future developments in the field of enzymatically crosslinked-injectable hydrogels, focusing on material selection, intrinsic properties, and filler integration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Based Composites)
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47 pages, 6131 KiB  
Review
Introductory Review of Soft Implantable Bioelectronics Using Conductive and Functional Hydrogels and Hydrogel Nanocomposites
by San Kim, Yumin Shin, Jaewon Han, Hye Jin Kim and Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo
Gels 2024, 10(10), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10100614 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1290
Abstract
Interfaces between implantable bioelectrodes and tissues provide critical insights into the biological and pathological conditions of targeted organs, aiding diagnosis and treatment. While conventional bioelectronics, made from rigid materials like metals and silicon, have been essential for recording signals and delivering electric stimulation, [...] Read more.
Interfaces between implantable bioelectrodes and tissues provide critical insights into the biological and pathological conditions of targeted organs, aiding diagnosis and treatment. While conventional bioelectronics, made from rigid materials like metals and silicon, have been essential for recording signals and delivering electric stimulation, they face limitations due to the mechanical mismatch between rigid devices and soft tissues. Recently, focus has shifted toward soft conductive materials, such as conductive hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites, known for their tissue-like softness, biocompatibility, and potential for functionalization. This review introduces these materials and provides an overview of recent advances in soft hydrogel nanocomposites for implantable electronics. It covers material strategies for conductive hydrogels, including both intrinsically conductive hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites, and explores key functionalization techniques like biodegradation, bioadhesiveness, injectability, and self-healing. Practical applications of these materials in implantable electronics are also highlighted, showcasing their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. Finally, we discuss emerging technologies and future needs for chronically implantable bioelectronics, offering insights into the evolving landscape of this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Based Composites)
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44 pages, 7409 KiB  
Review
Hydrogels Based on Chitosan and Nanoparticles and Their Suitability for Dyes Adsorption from Aqueous Media: Assessment of the Last-Decade Progresses
by Cristina-Gabriela Grigoraș, Andrei-Ionuț Simion and Cătălin Drob
Gels 2024, 10(3), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10030211 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2449
Abstract
Water is one of the fundamental resources for the existence of humans and the environment. Throughout time, due to urbanization, expanding population, increased agricultural production, and intense industrialization, significant pollution with persistent contaminants has been noted, placing the water quality in danger. As [...] Read more.
Water is one of the fundamental resources for the existence of humans and the environment. Throughout time, due to urbanization, expanding population, increased agricultural production, and intense industrialization, significant pollution with persistent contaminants has been noted, placing the water quality in danger. As a consequence, different procedures and various technologies have been tested and used in order to ensure that water sources are safe for use. The adsorption process is often considered for wastewater treatment due to its straightforward design, low investment cost, availability, avoidance of additional chemicals, lack of undesirable byproducts, and demonstrated significant efficacious potential for treating and eliminating organic contaminants. To accomplish its application, the need to develop innovative materials has become an essential goal. In this context, an overview of recent advances in hydrogels based on chitosan and nanocomposites and their application for the depollution of wastewater contaminated with dyes is reported herein. The present review focuses on (i) the challenges raised by the synthesis process and characterization of the different hydrogels; (ii) the discussion of the impact of the main parameters affecting the adsorption process; (iii) the understanding of the adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic behavior; and (iv) the examination of the possibility of recycling and reusing the hydrogels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Based Composites)
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Displaying articles 1-4

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

1. Title: Soft Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biointerfaces

Author: Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo

2. Title: Nitric Oxide Releasing Hydrogel for Accelerated Wound Healing

Authors: Taehyun Heo and Jeong-Kee Yoon

3. Title: Multi-Dimensional Construction of Hydrogels and Hydrogel Composites and Their Applications

Authors: Jongkuk Ko and Rizwan Hassan

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