Dear Colleagues,

Today, we know that biopolymer gels, as cross-linked systems, are extensively used in various areas of biomedicine and pharmacotherapy. Depending on their chemical structure and polarity, biomacromolecular-based gels generally contain functional domains that can act as reactive sites for interactions with ions and generate functional hybrid particles. In biomedical research, these particles are considered in different areas, including bone and tissue engineering, surgical instruments and medical devices, neural engineering, cancer therapy, biomechanics, and medical imaging. Biopolymer gels, such as model systems, are also able to change the shape and morphology of particles and tailor their biofunctionality. Drug-loaded biocompatible gels are extensively explored for the synthesis of particles that can lead to cancer therapy and gradual drug release in different organs. Another interesting approach is implementing biopolymer-loaded hybrid nanoparticles in the bioimaging and molecular diagnostics of diseases due to excellent optical properties.

The investigation of the role of biopolymer-based gels in the synthesis of inorganic particles and crystals is, therefore, important for introducing cost-effective, simple, and convenient strategies regarding biomedical products. In this Special Issue, I welcome original research papers, as well as reviews, on the synthesis of biopolymer–inorganic hybrid particles. The main objective is to gather contributions on various aspects related to the preparation, analyses, pharmaceutical uses, bioimaging, as well as the potential toxicity to humans of these particles during their usage.

I hope that this Special Issue will provide the scientific community with a thorough overview of the current research on particle synthesis, characterization, and applications in the biomedical area.

Dr. Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• biopolymer gels in synthesis of hierarchical and self-assembled structures
• biopolymer hybrid particles for cell encapsulation and biofabrication
• biopolymer hybrid particles for micropatterning and bio sensing in microfluidic devices
• injectable biopolymer hybrid particles in biomedical applications
• biopolymer hybrid particles for drug delivery
• biopolymer hybrid particles in cosmetic, hygiene, and personal care products