GelsPub Date : 2025-09-22DOI: 10.3390/gels11090761
Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Nipa Banik, Gazi A K M Rafiqul Bari, Jae-Ho Jeong
{"title":"Polymer Network-Based Nanogels and Microgels: Design, Classification, Synthesis, and Applications in Drug Delivery.","authors":"Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Nipa Banik, Gazi A K M Rafiqul Bari, Jae-Ho Jeong","doi":"10.3390/gels11090761","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090761","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polymer network-based nanogels (NGs) and microgels (MGs) have emerged as highly versatile platforms for advanced drug delivery, owing to their tunable architecture, biocompatibility, and responsiveness to diverse stimuli. This review presents a comprehensive and structured analysis of NG/MGs, encompassing their classification based on polymer origin, crosslinking mechanisms, composition, charge, stimuli-responsiveness, and structural architecture. We detail synthesis strategies-including inverse microemulsion and radiation-induced polymerization-and highlight key characterization techniques essential for evaluating physicochemical and functional properties. Emphasis is placed on the design-driven applications of NG/MGs in overcoming biological barriers and enabling targeted therapies, particularly in cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and viral infections. Multifunctional NGs integrating therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities (theranostics), as well as emerging platforms for immunotherapy and personalized medicine, are critically discussed. Finally, we address translational challenges and future directions, including scalable manufacturing, regulatory considerations, and integration with smart diagnostics. This review aims to serve as a foundational resource for researchers and clinicians developing next-generation NG/MG-based therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469318/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-22DOI: 10.3390/gels11090762
Md Murshed Bhuyan, Kyungjun Lee
{"title":"Nano Gel/Hydrogel-Based Components for Battery Technology: An Overview.","authors":"Md Murshed Bhuyan, Kyungjun Lee","doi":"10.3390/gels11090762","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090762","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Battery technology represents a cornerstone in the evolution of the energy sector, driven by the urgent need for sustainable and efficient energy storage systems. Various materials, including metals, non-metals, semiconductors, and polymeric gel conductors comprise batteries, and their size and composition can significantly affect battery performance. The essential components of a battery are electrolytes, electrodes, nanogelators, and membranes that can be built up by using nanogels. The nanogel components significantly enhance the efficiency and stability of redox-active flow batteries, which makes them cheaper and eco-friendly. Little research has been conducted on nanogel-based battery technology. This study mainly focuses on the nanogels used in the components of batteries. The review explains the functions of nanogels in different electrolytes, electrodes, nanogelators, and membranes. This review explicitly discusses the current status and literature background of nanogels and hydrogels in battery technology. For anyone interested in delving deeper into the realm of nanogel-based batteries, this review article serves as a valuable resource, offering a thorough exploration of their role in revolutionizing modern energy storage systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-21DOI: 10.3390/gels11090759
Sofia Teixeira, Débora Ferreira, Ligia R Rodrigues, M Alice Carvalho, Elisabete M S Castanheira
{"title":"Albumin/Hyaluronic Acid Gel Nanoparticles Loaded with a Pyrimidine-Based Drug for Potent Anticancer Activity.","authors":"Sofia Teixeira, Débora Ferreira, Ligia R Rodrigues, M Alice Carvalho, Elisabete M S Castanheira","doi":"10.3390/gels11090759","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090759","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A pyrimidine-based compound (<b>PP</b>) was recently found to be a promising anticancer agent for colorectal and breast cancers. However, this compound exhibited low selectivity and poor water solubility. To address these challenges, albumin gel nanoparticles were used, where the gel matrix is formed by cross-linking of BSA molecules, allowing for a high concentration of this hydrophobic drug to be carried with no cytotoxicity to non-tumor cells. Functionalization with hyaluronic acid (HA) was employed to target CD44-overexpressing cancer cells, specifically triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT 116). The gel nanoparticles present mean sizes below 250 nm, very low polydispersity, small aggregation tendency, and excellent colloidal stability in PBS buffer for a storage period of 30 days. Moreover, the drug-loaded particles showed high encapsulation efficiencies (above 85%) and sustained release profiles. Drug-loaded BSA/HA particles (<b>PP-HA-BSA-NPs</b>) revealed advantageous activity, presenting around 55% and 23% cell viability at a IC<sub>50</sub> drug concentration for triple-negative breast cancer (the most aggressive breast cancer subtype) and colorectal cancer (second leading cause of cancer-related deaths), respectively. In conclusion, these nanoparticles outperform the ones without HA, demonstrating target capabilities, while retaining the drug's anticancer activity and reducing the drug's toxicity. These results are promising for future in vivo assays and clinical translational applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-21DOI: 10.3390/gels11090760
Gabriela Uribe-Cruz, María Antonia Flores-Córdova, Mayra Cristina Soto-Caballero, Nora Aideé Salas-Salazar, María Janeth Rodríguez-Roque, Carlos Horacio Acosta-Muñiz, Claudia Andrea Romero-Bastida, Paul Baruk Zamudio-Flores
{"title":"Evaluation of the Effect of Oregano Essential Oil and Emulsifier Ratio on the Physicochemical, Mechanical, and Antioxidant Properties of Corn Starch Films Based on Gel Matrices.","authors":"Gabriela Uribe-Cruz, María Antonia Flores-Córdova, Mayra Cristina Soto-Caballero, Nora Aideé Salas-Salazar, María Janeth Rodríguez-Roque, Carlos Horacio Acosta-Muñiz, Claudia Andrea Romero-Bastida, Paul Baruk Zamudio-Flores","doi":"10.3390/gels11090760","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, the oregano essential oil (OEO) was extracted and physiochemically characterized in order to assess its effect on starch films formed from gel matrices. Ten formulations were proposed, in which the amounts of OEO and the emulsifier Tween<sup>®</sup> 80 (Tween80) were varied in order to determine the OEO and Tween80 (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) ratio that would allow us to obtain a stable colloidal dispersion (without the physical perception of OEO) with an adequate incorporation of OEO. The effect of the inclusion of OEO on the rheological, physicochemical (color, thickness, and density), mechanical, water vapor permeability (WVP), and antioxidant properties of the starch-based gel films were evaluated. The formulations indicated that an OEO/Tween80 ratio of 0.0046/0.0010 g g<sup>-1</sup> was the appropriate formulation for the formation of starch films from gel matrices with physical and mechanical properties suitable for being applied to food. This ratio could be ideal for obtaining films with greater mechanical properties and lower hydrophilicity (lower WVP) for packaging for foods that do not require high WVP levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.3390/gels11090758
Juan Cao, Bo Wu, Ping Yuan, Yeqi Liu, Cheng Hu
{"title":"Research Progress of Sodium Alginate-Based Hydrogels in Biomedical Engineering.","authors":"Juan Cao, Bo Wu, Ping Yuan, Yeqi Liu, Cheng Hu","doi":"10.3390/gels11090758","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090758","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sodium alginate, a widely available and high-performance natural polymer, exhibits significant potential for applications in the biomedical field due to its excellent biocompatibility and versatile functionalization capabilities. This review systematically elucidates the fundamental properties and preparation methods of sodium alginate-based hydrogels, analyzing recent advancements in optimizing their mechanical properties, functionalization, and biological characteristics through strategies such as composite material construction, nano-reinforcement, and dynamic crosslinking. Furthermore, it summarizes the multifunctional applications of sodium alginate-based hydrogels in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing while addressing challenges in practical applications, including insufficient mechanical strength, regulating degradation rates, and maintaining stability in complex biological environments. To overcome these challenges, future research directions are proposed, including performance optimization, intelligent design, novel preparation techniques, and interdisciplinary collaboration, to facilitate the comprehensive transition of sodium alginate hydrogels from laboratory research to clinical applications. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and technical support for the fundamental research and biomedical applications of sodium alginate hydrogels while highlighting their promising prospects in addressing complex medical challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469324/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.3390/gels11090756
Yuliza G Morales-Herrejón, Jorge Vargas-Almaraz, Adolfo Castañeda-Salazar, Sandra Mendoza
{"title":"Bio-Aerogels as Materials for Active Food Packaging: Emerging Trends in Food Preservation.","authors":"Yuliza G Morales-Herrejón, Jorge Vargas-Almaraz, Adolfo Castañeda-Salazar, Sandra Mendoza","doi":"10.3390/gels11090756","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090756","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Active food packaging is an innovative strategy to improve preservation and extend the shelf life of food products. In this context, aerogels, extremely lightweight and porous materials, have gained popularity for packaging development due to their ability to integrate active properties into their structure that enhance moisture control, controlled drug release, and barrier properties. This review explores emerging trends in the use of aerogels for active food packaging, focusing on the physical and functional properties of aerogels, their current applications in the food industry, and the challenges associated with their large-scale adoption. In addition, aerogels are compared to conventional packaging materials, highlighting their advantages in terms of sustainability and performance. Despite the numerous benefits and great potential of aerogels in the food industry, concerns related to cost, mechanical strength, and food safety persist. Recent developments in the production of aerogels and prospects for their use as an innovative material in packaging are addressed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469651/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.3390/gels11090757
Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Nipa Banik, Md Shahriar Ahmed, Hohyoun Jang, Kyung-Wan Nam, Mobinul Islam
{"title":"Applications of Hydrogels for Next-Generation Batteries.","authors":"Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Nipa Banik, Md Shahriar Ahmed, Hohyoun Jang, Kyung-Wan Nam, Mobinul Islam","doi":"10.3390/gels11090757","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090757","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydrogels have garnered significant attention as multifunctional materials in next-generation rechargeable batteries due to their high ionic conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and structural tunability. This review presents a comprehensive overview of hydrogel types-including natural, synthetic, composite, carbon-based, conductive polymer, and MOF hydrogels-and their synthesis methods, such as chemical crosslinking, self-assembly, and irradiation-based techniques. Characterization tools like SEM, XRD, and FTIR are discussed to evaluate their microstructure and performance. In rechargeable batteries systems, hydrogels enhance ionic transport and mechanical stability, particularly in lithium-ion, sodium-ion, zinc-ion, magnesium-ion, and aluminum-ion batteries. Despite their advantages, hydrogels face challenges such as limited mechanical strength, reduced stability under extreme conditions, and scalability issues. Current research focuses on advanced formulations, self-healing mechanisms, and sustainable materials to overcome these limitations. This review highlights the pivotal role of hydrogels in shaping the future of flexible, high-performance, and environmentally friendly secondary batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469778/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.3390/gels11090754
Alejandro Melero, Jon Andrade Del Olmo, Nagore Martínez de Cestafe, Claudia Goenaga Ibeas, Miguel Ucelay López de Heredia, Jon Kepa Izaguirre, José María Alonso, Raúl Pérez González
{"title":"Viscoelastic Properties and Enzymatic Degradation of Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid for Deep Dermal Filler Use.","authors":"Alejandro Melero, Jon Andrade Del Olmo, Nagore Martínez de Cestafe, Claudia Goenaga Ibeas, Miguel Ucelay López de Heredia, Jon Kepa Izaguirre, José María Alonso, Raúl Pérez González","doi":"10.3390/gels11090754","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090754","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Crosslinked hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are widely used for non-permanent aesthetic enhancement, offering safe and effective solutions for facial volume restoration. Specific formulations are designed for targeted facial regions, with highly crosslinked hydrogels often recommended for volumizing areas such as the jawline, chin, and cheeks due to their structural properties. While elasticity and viscosity are commonly evaluated, broader comparative analyses remain limited. In this study, we assess five commercially available HA-based fillers with similar HA concentrations, all optimised for volume enhancement. Alongside widely used reference products, we evaluate BtHCROSS 2%<sup>®</sup>, a novel formulation not previously compared to established fillers. We examined the degree of chemical modification, mechanical viscoelastic behaviour, susceptibility to enzymatic degradation by hyaluronidase, and injection force. While all tested fillers are suitable for volume restoration, BtHCROSS 2%<sup>®</sup> demonstrates a distinctive combination of mechanical adaptability, structural support, enzymatic resistance, and low injection force, making it a versatile option for practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469832/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Valorization of River Sediments in Sustainable Cementitious Gel Materials: A Review of Characteristics, Activation, and Performance.","authors":"Yuanxun Zheng, Yuxiao Xie, Yu Zhang, Cong Wan, Li Miao, Peng Zhang","doi":"10.3390/gels11090755","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090755","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>River sediments have attracted increasing attention as alternative raw materials for sustainable cementitious materials due to their abundant availability and silica-alumina-rich composition. In this study, a systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science and Google Scholar using combinations of the keywords \"river sediment,\" \"cementitious materials,\" \"activation,\" and \"pozzolanic activity,\" covering publications up to July 2025. In addition, a citation network tool (Connected Papers) was employed to trace related works and ensure comprehensive coverage of emerging studies. This review systematically examines the properties of river sediments from diverse regions, along with activation and modification techniques such as alkali/acid activation, thermal calcination, and mechanical milling. Their applications in various cementitious systems are analyzed, with mix design models compared to elucidate the effects of replacing fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, and cement on workability, strength, and durability. Multi-scale characterization via XRD, FTIR, and TG-DSC reveals the mechanisms of C-S-H and C-A-S-H gel formation, pore refinement, and interfacial transition zone densification. The review highlights three key findings: (1) moderate sediment replacement (20-30%) improves strength without compromising flowability; (2) alkali-water glass activation and calcination at 600-850 °C effectively enhance pozzolanic activity; and (3) combining the minimum paste thickness theory with additives such as water reducers, fibers, or biochar enables high-performance and low-carbon concrete design. This review provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation and technical pathway for the high-value utilization of river sediments, carbon reduction in concrete, and sustainable resource recycling.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-17DOI: 10.3390/gels11090752
Emanuela Longo, Elena Giuliano, Agnese Gagliardi, Valeria Gaetano, Marialaura Frisina, Mario Verdiglione, Donato Cosco
{"title":"In Situ Forming Poloxamer-Based Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogels for Ocular Application: A Focus on the Derivatives 407 and 188.","authors":"Emanuela Longo, Elena Giuliano, Agnese Gagliardi, Valeria Gaetano, Marialaura Frisina, Mario Verdiglione, Donato Cosco","doi":"10.3390/gels11090752","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090752","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In ophthalmology, developing effective drug delivery systems is crucial to overcome anatomical and physiological barriers, such as rapid tear turnover and blinking, which limit the efficacy of conventional formulations like eye drops. Poloxamers, especially the derivatives 407 (P407) and 188, are amphiphilic triblock copolymers characterized by an intriguing thermo-reversible behavior, making them ideal candidates for the development of in situ hydrogels for ocular applications. Various thermo-sensitive poloxamer-based hydrogels were designed to be easily instilled as liquids at room temperature, gelling promptly upon contact with the corneal surface. These systems promoted a controlled release of active compounds, significantly improving their adhesion to the ocular surface. This review discusses the most relevant scientific literature on the topic, with particular attention to studies published in recent years. The results demonstrated that poloxamer formulations are capable of overcoming typical ocular barriers, thereby increasing drug bioavailability. The intrinsic biocompatibility of poloxamers contributes to the safety and tolerability of the system. Furthermore, P407 showed additional wound healing features. The combination of biocompatibility and thermo-reversible behavior makes poloxamer-based hydrogels a promising platform for the development of innovative ocular drug delivery systems able to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient comfort.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}