Properties and Applications of Biomaterials Related to Gels (2nd 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 June 2024 | Viewed by 4015

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Guest Editor
School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Interests: hydrogels; biomaterials; nanoparticles; tissue engineering
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Dear Colleagues,

As an excellent biopolymer material, gel has been widely used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, disease treatment, etc. By combining different polymers, through physical or chemical changes, the prepared hydrogels can show better performance and be used in various environments.

At present, the exploration of gels in biomedicine seems to be diversified. In order to adapt to the complex environment in the organism, higher requirements must put forward for the gel. Under the premise that the gel is biosafe, it must become tougher or more easily degradable according to the purpose of application, be able to stay in the body for a long time to exert its effect, or be easily removed. Moreover, certain gels can even respond to changes in pH, temperature, biological indicators, or microorganisms in the body. We are interested in the intelligent properties of gels, and the condition in which these properties can be used to facilitate their applications is undoubtedly a question that researchers need to consider carefully.

We look forward to your unique insights into gel properties or applications. I hope to share the experimental and research results in this Special Issue and inspire new ideas for gel applications.

Prof. Dr. Shige Wang
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 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

  • hydrogel
  • hemostasis
  • cell cryopreservation
  • drug delivery
  • wound dressing

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 4149 KiB  
Article
Design and Characterization of Citronella Oil-Loaded Micro-Emulgel for the Treatment of Candida Albicans Infection
by Shambhvi Singh, Shikha Baghel Chauhan, Charu Gupta, Indu Singh, Annie Gupta, Shwetakshi Sharma, S. M. Kawish, Shakilur Rahman and Muzaffar Iqbal
Gels 2023, 9(10), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9100799 - 05 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1369
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to prepare and evaluate a citronella oil-loaded microemulsion-based micro-emulgel for the treatment of Candida albicans. The primary objective was to use the skin to transfer hydrophobic medications into the bloodstream. The formulation included cinnamon oil [...] Read more.
The purpose of the current study was to prepare and evaluate a citronella oil-loaded microemulsion-based micro-emulgel for the treatment of Candida albicans. The primary objective was to use the skin to transfer hydrophobic medications into the bloodstream. The formulation included cinnamon oil as an antifungal oil and citronella oil as an active pharmaceutical ingredient, respectively. Tween 80 and PEG 200 were used as the surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively, to create phase diagrams. Carbopol 940, one of the frequently used polymers, was investigated for its ability to prepare gel formulations. The optimized (F3) batch contained the highest percentage (87.05 ± 0.03%) of drug content and, according to the statistics provided, had the highest drug release rate of around 87.05% within 4 h. The Korsmeyer–Peppas model with n value of 0.82, which is in the range 0.5–1, had the highest r2 value, indicating that release following non-Fickian/anomalous diffusion provided a better dimension for all of the formulations. The optimized (F3) formulation had stronger antifungal activity in comparison to other formulations. This leads to the conclusion that citronella oil can be made into a micro-emulgel, which may improve its release in aqueous systems while maintaining a high level of drug release at the target site. Full article
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16 pages, 3339 KiB  
Article
A Carboxyethylchitosan Gel Cross-Linked with Glutaraldehyde as a Candidate Carrier for Biomedical Applications
by Anastasia Korel, Alexander Samokhin, Ekaterina Zemlyakova, Alexander Pestov, Elena Blinova, Maxim Zelikman, Vadim Tkachenko, Viktoria Bets, Svetlana Kretien, Elena Arzhanova and Ekaterina Litvinova
Gels 2023, 9(9), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9090756 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 819
Abstract
To date, few publications describe CEC’s properties and possible applications—thus, further evaluation of these properties is a point of interest. The present in vitro model study aimed to evaluate a carboxyethylchitosan (CEC) gel with a degree of substitution of 1, cross-linked with glutaraldehyde [...] Read more.
To date, few publications describe CEC’s properties and possible applications—thus, further evaluation of these properties is a point of interest. The present in vitro model study aimed to evaluate a carboxyethylchitosan (CEC) gel with a degree of substitution of 1, cross-linked with glutaraldehyde at a polymer:aldehyde molar ratio of 10:1, as a potential carrier for delivering bacteriophages to various pH-fixed media (acidic, alkaline), and including gastrointestinal tract (GIT) variable medium. A quantitative analysis of bacteriophages released from the gel was performed using photon correlation spectrophotometry, and phage activity after emission into medium was evaluated using the spot test. The results showed that the CEC gel’s maximum swelling ratios were at a nearly neutral alkaline pH. Increasing temperature enhances the swelling ratio of the gel independent from pH, up to 1127% at 37 °C and alkaline pH. The UV and photon correlation spectrophotometry showed equal gel release kinetics in both fixed media with acidic (pH = 2.2) and alkaline (pH = 7.4) pH environments at 37 °C, with the maximum release within two hours. However, phage lytic activity in the spot test during this simulation was absent. At the same time, we obtained an opaque phage lytic activity in the alkaline pH-fixed medium for at least three hours. Phages released from the tested CEC gel in different pHs suggest that this gel could be used for applications that require fast release at the treatment site both in acidic and alkaline pH. Such treatment sites could be a wound or even soil with mild acidic or alkaline pH. However, such CEC gel is not suitable as a delivery system to the GIT because of possible transported acid-sensitive agent (such as phages) release and destruction already in the stomach. Full article
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15 pages, 7319 KiB  
Article
Injectable Gamboge-Based In Situ Gel for Sustained Delivery of Imatinib Mesylate
by Kritamorn Jitrangsri, Ei Mon Khaing, Torsak Intaraphairot, Thawatchai Phaechamud and Jongjan Mahadlek
Gels 2023, 9(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9090737 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1033
Abstract
The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize the imatinib mesylate (IM)-loaded gamboge-based ISG system for local administration of an anticancer agent against colorectal carcinoma. The ISG formulations were prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The physicochemical properties, [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize the imatinib mesylate (IM)-loaded gamboge-based ISG system for local administration of an anticancer agent against colorectal carcinoma. The ISG formulations were prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The physicochemical properties, drug release profile, and cytotoxicity of the developed formulations were assessed. The developed ISG demonstrated Newtonian flow behavior with acceptable rheological and mechanical properties. The viscosity of the developed ISG, measured at less than 80 cP, and the applied forces of less than 50 N·mm, indicated easy administration using clinical injection techniques. Upon contact with an aqueous phase, the ISG immediately formed a porous cross-sectional structure, enabling sustained release of IM over 14 days. The release profile of IM was fitted to the quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism, and the release rate could be controlled by the types of solvent and the amount of IM content. The developed IM-loaded gamboge ISG effectively inhibited colorectal cancer cells, including HCT116 and HT29 cell lines, with less than 20% cell viability observed at a concentration of 1% w/w IM after 2 days of incubation. This suggests that the developed ISG may potentially serve as an injectable system for localized anticancer delivery against colorectal cells, potentially reducing the side effects of systemic chemotherapy and improving patient adherence. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 5015 KiB  
Review
Shape Memory Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
by Aleeza Farrukh and Sana Nayab
Gels 2024, 10(4), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10040270 - 17 Apr 2024
Viewed by 491
Abstract
The ability of shape memory polymers to change shape upon external stimulation makes them exceedingly useful in various areas, from biomedical engineering to soft robotics. Especially, shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) are well-suited for biomedical applications due to their inherent biocompatibility, excellent shape morphing [...] Read more.
The ability of shape memory polymers to change shape upon external stimulation makes them exceedingly useful in various areas, from biomedical engineering to soft robotics. Especially, shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) are well-suited for biomedical applications due to their inherent biocompatibility, excellent shape morphing performance, tunable physiochemical properties, and responsiveness to a wide range of stimuli (e.g., thermal, chemical, electrical, light). This review provides an overview of the unique features of smart SMHs from their fundamental working mechanisms to types of SMHs classified on the basis of applied stimuli and highlights notable clinical applications. Moreover, the potential of SMHs for surgical, biomedical, and tissue engineering applications is discussed. Finally, this review summarizes the current challenges in synthesizing and fabricating reconfigurable hydrogel-based interfaces and outlines future directions for their potential in personalized medicine and clinical applications. Full article
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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.

Type of Paper: Review
Tentative Title: Shape Memory Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Full authorship: Aleeza Farrukh, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, US.

Abstract: The ability of shape memory polymers to change shape on external stimulation makes them exceedingly useful for various areas, from biomedical engineering to soft robotics. Especially, the shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) are well suited for biomedical applications due to their inherent biocompatibility, excellent shape memory performance, and tunable physiochemical properties. This review will provide an overview of shape memory hydrogels for surgical, biomedical, and tissue engineering applications. Moreover, the unique features of smart SMHs will be discussed, from their fundamental working mechanisms to notable clinical applications. Finally, this review will summarize the current challenges in synthesizing and fabricating reconfigurable hydrogel-based interfaces and outline future directions for their potential in personalized medicine and clinical applications.

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