This Special Issue will bring together cutting-edge research that explores the frontiers of hydrogel science and engineering. Submit your manuscript by September 30, 2025.
Hydrogels exhibit liquid-like mass diffusion behavior while retaining elastomer-liker mechanical properties. This uniqueness nurtures emerging opportunities for diversified scenarios such as drug delivery, tissue regeneration, flexible electronics, and water sustainability. These advanced applications conversely raise growing requirements towards the chemical composition, geometric structure, responsiveness, and robustness of the materials, which constantly promotes current research on hydrogels.
To provide a publishing platform for hydrogel research, Chem & Bio Engineering is launching a Special Issue on “Advanced Functional Hydrogels.” This Special Issue seeks to capture the breadth of hydrogel research, spanning from fundamental advances to practical applications in diverse fields.
We invite contributions of Articles, Letters, Reviews, Perspectives, Viewpoints, Commentaries on all topics related to hydrogels, including (but not limited to):
- Novel methods for hydrogels synthesis and characterization.
- Advanced fabrication methods to build sophisticated structure (3D/4D printing, photolithography, freeze casting etc.)
- Hydrogels with unique performances (tough, adhesive, healable, shape morphable, etc.)
- Hydrogels for emerging applications (flexible electronics, sustainable development, biomedical devices, soft robotics, etc.)
Organizing Editors
Guihua Yu, Ph.D., Guest Editor
The University of Texas at Austin, United States
Ximin He, Ph.D., Guest Editor
University of California, Los Angeles, United States
Qian Zhao, Ph.D., Guest Editor
Zhejiang University, China
Submission Information
Submissions are welcome through September 30, 2025. All articles will be peer reviewed prior to acceptance to ensure they fit the scope of the virtual special issue and meet the high scientific publishing standards of Chem & Bio Engineering. Peer review will be handled by the Editors of the journal.
If accepted, publications will go online as soon as possible and be published in the next available issue. Publications on this topic will be gathered into a Virtual Issue and widely promoted as significant contributions to this research area.
Open Access
Chem & Bio Engineering is a fully open access journal; thus, your paper will be available to anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world. APCs for manuscripts submitted by December 31, 2026 are covered by the journal if they are accepted after peer review.
Visit our Open Science Resource Center to learn more about our various open access options available to researchers.
How to Submit
- Log in to the ACS Publishing Center.
- Select the “Journals” tab.
- Search for Chem & Bio Engineering.
- Click "Submit."
- Select your manuscript type, and, under “Special Issue Selection,” choose “Advanced Functional Hydrogels.”
Please see our Author Guidelines for more information on submission requirements.
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