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Gels
Special Issues
Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
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Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2023) | Viewed by 23922

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wen Shi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Interests: drug delivery; imaging; tissue regeneration; nanomedicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shixuan Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China
Interests: regenerative medicine; wound healing; bone regeneration; nanofiber; biofabrication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bo Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Interests: hydrogels; regenerative medicine; polymer chemistry; exosomes; cryopreservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is a rapidly developing field aiming to fully repair or regenerate damaged tissues/organs and restore their functions by combining advancements and experiences from both engineering and medicine. Hydrogels, three-dimensional water-swollen materials, have exhibited versatile features for TERM applications. In addition to common hydrogels being employed as biocompatible and minimally invasive scaffolds for loading drugs or cells, more advanced hydrogels presenting multifunctional properties play more important roles in improving treatment outcomes in TERM.

These advanced hydrogel properties include, but are not limited to, self-healing, environmental stimuli responsiveness, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, conductivity, etc. For example, self-healing hydrogels are promising candidates for bone and cartilage tissue engineering, as their self-healing characteristics can help them better deal with load-bearing conditions in native bone and cartilage sites. Additionally, the application of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory hydrogels can significantly accelerate wound healing by modulating the microenvironments in chronic wounds. On the other hand, hydrogels are also an essential component of bioinks in 3D bioprinting due to being structurally similar to the extracellular matrix of human tissues. Through the adjustment of hydrogel components and mechanical properties, 3D bio-printed tissues/organs can better mimic native tissue structures and support cellular growth, differentiation, and function, thereby enhancing TERM efficacy. The purpose of this Special Issue is to summarize the progress achieved regarding advanced hydrogels within the TERM area, and encourage the discovery of new advanced hydrogels for better tissue/organ regeneration.

Dr. Wen Shi
Prof. Dr. Shixuan Chen
Dr. Bo Liu
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 2600 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
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • 3D bioprinting
  • multifunctional
  • disease models
  • scaffolds
  • stem cells
  • extracellular matrix

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2125 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Alginate Hydrogel as an Antioxidative Bioink for Bioprinting
by Wenhai Zhang, Mitchell Kuss, Yi Yan and Wen Shi
Gels 2023, 9(4), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9040312 - 07 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1475
Abstract
3D bioprinting holds great potential for use in tissue engineering to treat degenerative joint disorders, such as osteoarthritis. However, there is a lack of multifunctional bioinks that can not only support cell growth and differentiation, but also offer protection to cells against injuries [...] Read more.
3D bioprinting holds great potential for use in tissue engineering to treat degenerative joint disorders, such as osteoarthritis. However, there is a lack of multifunctional bioinks that can not only support cell growth and differentiation, but also offer protection to cells against injuries caused by the elevated oxidative stress; this conditions is a common characteristic of the microenvironment of the osteoarthritis disease. To mitigate oxidative stress-induced cellular phenotype change and malfunction, an anti-oxidative bioink derived from an alginate dynamic hydrogel was developed in this study. The alginate dynamic hydrogel gelated quickly via the dynamic covalent bond between the phenylboronic acid modified alginate (Alg-PBA) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA). It presented good self-healing and shear-thinning abilities because of the dynamic feature. The dynamic hydrogel supported long-term growth of mouse fibroblasts after stabilization with a secondary ionic crosslinking between introduced calcium ions and the carboxylate group in the alginate backbone. In addition, the dynamic hydrogel showed good printability, resulting in the fabrication of scaffolds with cylindrical and grid structures with good structural fidelity. Encapsulated mouse chondrocytes maintained high viability for at least 7 days in the bioprinted hydrogel after ionic crosslinking. Most importantly, in vitro studies implied that the bioprinted scaffold could reduce the intracellular oxidative stress for embedded chondrocytes under H2O2 exposure; it could also protect the chondrocytes from H2O2-induced downregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) relevant anabolic genes (ACAN and COL2) and upregulation of a catabolic gene (MMP13). In summary, the results suggest that the dynamic alginate hydrogel can be applied as a versatile bioink for the fabrication of 3D bioprinted scaffolds with an innate antioxidative ability; this technique is expected to improve the regenerative efficacy of cartilage tissues for the treatment of joint disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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13 pages, 2959 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Chitosan and Chondroitin Sulfate Based Hydrogels Enriched with Garlic Extract for Potential Wound Healing/Skin Regeneration Applications
by Fatima Masood, Muhammad Atif Makhdoom, Iftikhar Ahmed Channa, Sadaf Jamal Gilani, Ahmad Khan, Rabia Hussain, Syeda Ammara Batool, Kiran Konain, Saeed Ur Rahman, Abdul Wadood, May Nasser bin Jumah and Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman
Gels 2022, 8(10), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8100676 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2333
Abstract
Hydrogels can provide instant relief to pain and facilitate the fast recovery of wounds. Currently, the incorporation of medicinal herbs/plants in polymer matrix is being investigated due to their anti-bacterial and wound healing properties. Herein, we investigated the novel combination of chitosan (CS) [...] Read more.
Hydrogels can provide instant relief to pain and facilitate the fast recovery of wounds. Currently, the incorporation of medicinal herbs/plants in polymer matrix is being investigated due to their anti-bacterial and wound healing properties. Herein, we investigated the novel combination of chitosan (CS) and chondroitin sulfate (CHI) to synthesize hydrogels through freeze gelation process and enriched it with garlic (Gar) by soaking the hydrogels in garlic juice for faster wound healing and resistance to microbial growth at the wound surface. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which confirmed the presence of relevant functional groups. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images exhibited the porous structure of the hydrogels, which is useful for the sustained release of Gar from the hydrogels. The synthesized hydrogels showed significant inhibition zones against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Furthermore, cell culture studies confirmed the cyto-compatibility of the synthesized hydrogels. Thus, the novel hydrogels presented in this study can offer an antibacterial effect during wound healing and promote tissue regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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9 pages, 708 KiB  
Article
rhEGF-Loaded Hydrogel in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds in Patients with Diabetes: Clinical Cases
by Beatriz Guitton Renaud Baptista de Oliveira, Bianca Campos Oliveira, Gabriela Deutsch, Fernanda Soares Pessanha, Rossana Mara da Silva Moreira Thiré and Selma Rodrigues de Castilho
Gels 2022, 8(8), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8080523 - 20 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1544
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the healing process of chronic wounds treated with carboxymethylcellulose loaded with recombinant human epidermal growth factor in patients with diabetes. The case series consisted of 10 patients treated at the university hospital for 12 weeks. [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the healing process of chronic wounds treated with carboxymethylcellulose loaded with recombinant human epidermal growth factor in patients with diabetes. The case series consisted of 10 patients treated at the university hospital for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. according to the intention to treat the principle, without the loss or exclusion of the participants. The sample consisted of 70% (7/10) males with a mean age of 61.9 years (±9.4); all (100%) had diabetes mellitus and 70% (7/10) had systolic hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus. Sixty percent (6/10) presented lesions of diabetic etiology and 40% (4/10) presented lesions of venous etiology; 70% (7/10) had had lesions for less than 5 years. The mean glycated hemoglobin was 7.8% (±2.7%), while the mean ankle-arm index (AAI) was 0.94 (±0.21). The mean initial area of all wounds was 13.4 cm², and the mean final area was 7.8 cm2, with a reduction rate of 28.9% over the 12 weeks of treatment. The reduction rate of diabetic ulcers was higher (33.4%) than that of venous ulcers (22.1%). Regarding the type of tissue, there was an increase in granulation and epithelialization, and a decrease in slough and the amount of exudate that were statistically significant (p = 0.021). No participant had severe or local adverse events during the study period. Epidermal growth factor was effective in the treatment of chronic wounds, especially diabetic ulcers, resulting in the reduction of the wound area and the improvement of tissue and exudate quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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Review

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24 pages, 6847 KiB  
Review
Application of Collagen-Based Hydrogel in Skin Wound Healing
by Yuan Zhang, Yong Wang, Ying Li, Yunpeng Yang, Mingyuan Jin, Xiaoying Lin, Zeming Zhuang, Kai Guo, Tao Zhang and Weiqiang Tan
Gels 2023, 9(3), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9030185 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 8915
Abstract
The repair of skin injury has always been a concern in the medical field. As a kind of biopolymer material with a special network structure and function, collagen-based hydrogel has been widely used in the field of skin injury repair. In this paper, [...] Read more.
The repair of skin injury has always been a concern in the medical field. As a kind of biopolymer material with a special network structure and function, collagen-based hydrogel has been widely used in the field of skin injury repair. In this paper, the current research and application status of primal hydrogels in the field of skin repair in recent years are comprehensively reviewed. Starting from the structure and properties of collagen, the preparation, structural properties, and application of collagen-based hydrogels in skin injury repair are emphatically described. Meanwhile, the influences of collagen types, preparation methods, and crosslinking methods on the structural properties of hydrogels are emphatically discussed. The future and development of collagen-based hydrogels are prospected, which is expected to provide reference for the research and application of collagen-based hydrogels for skin repair in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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18 pages, 6973 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Hydrogel-Based Synthetic Cartilage: Focus on Lubrication and Load-Bearing Capacities
by Fei Qiu, Xiaopeng Fan, Wen Chen, Chunming Xu, Yumei Li and Renjian Xie
Gels 2023, 9(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9020144 - 08 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3044
Abstract
Articular cartilage (AC), which covers the ends of bones in joints, particularly the knee joints, provides a robust interface to maintain frictionless movement during daily life due to its remarkable lubricating and load-bearing capacities. However, osteoarthritis (OA), characterized by the progressive degradation of [...] Read more.
Articular cartilage (AC), which covers the ends of bones in joints, particularly the knee joints, provides a robust interface to maintain frictionless movement during daily life due to its remarkable lubricating and load-bearing capacities. However, osteoarthritis (OA), characterized by the progressive degradation of AC, compromises the properties of AC and thus leads to frayed and rough interfaces between the bones, which subsequently accelerates the progression of OA. Hydrogels, composed of highly hydrated and interconnected polymer chains, are potential candidates for AC replacement due to their physical and chemical properties being similar to those of AC. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of hydrogel-based synthetic cartilage, or cartilage-like hydrogels, with a particular focus on their lubrication and load-bearing properties. The different formulations, current limitations, and challenges of such hydrogels are also discussed. Moreover, we discuss the future directions of hydrogel-based synthetic cartilage to repair and even regenerate the damaged AC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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20 pages, 1017 KiB  
Review
Effects and Progress of Photo-Crosslinking Hydrogels in Wound Healing Improvement
by Hao Ma, Yuan Peng, Shunuo Zhang, Yixin Zhang and Peiru Min
Gels 2022, 8(10), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8100609 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2619
Abstract
Wound healing is a dynamic physiological process, including three stages: inflammation, tissue formation, and remodeling. The quality of wound healing is affected by many topical and systemic factors, while any small factor may affect the process. Therefore, improving the quality of wound healing [...] Read more.
Wound healing is a dynamic physiological process, including three stages: inflammation, tissue formation, and remodeling. The quality of wound healing is affected by many topical and systemic factors, while any small factor may affect the process. Therefore, improving the quality of wound healing is a complex and arduous challenge. Photo-crosslinking reaction using visible light irradiation is a novel method for hydrogel preparation. Photo-crosslinking hydrogels can be controlled in time and space, and are not interfered by temperature conditions, which have been widely used in the fields of medicine and engineering. This review aims to summarize the application of photo-crosslinking hydrogels in improving the quality of wound healing, mainly including the material design, application mechanism, and effect of photo-crosslinking hydrogels applied in wound healing, followed by the applicable animal models for experimental research. Finally, this review analyzes the clinical application prospects of photo-crosslinking hydrogels in the field of wound healing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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20 pages, 842 KiB  
Review
Glaucoma Treatment and Hydrogel: Current Insights and State of the Art
by Antonio Maria Fea, Cristina Novarese, Paolo Caselgrandi and Giacomo Boscia
Gels 2022, 8(8), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8080510 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2907
Abstract
Aqueous gels formulated using hydrophilic polymers (hydrogels) and those based on stimuli-responsive polymers (in situ gelling or gel-forming systems) attract increasing interest in the treatment of several eye diseases. Their chemical structure enables them to incorporate various ophthalmic medications, achieving their optimal therapeutic [...] Read more.
Aqueous gels formulated using hydrophilic polymers (hydrogels) and those based on stimuli-responsive polymers (in situ gelling or gel-forming systems) attract increasing interest in the treatment of several eye diseases. Their chemical structure enables them to incorporate various ophthalmic medications, achieving their optimal therapeutic doses and providing more clinically relevant time courses (weeks or months as opposed to hours and days), which will inevitably reduce dose frequency, thereby improving patient compliance and clinical outcomes. Due to its chronic course, the treatment of glaucoma may benefit from applying gel technologies as drug-delivering systems and as antifibrotic treatment during and after surgery. Therefore, our purpose is to review current applications of ophthalmic gelling systems with particular emphasis on glaucoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering)
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