Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications

Gels constitute a versatile class of materials with considerable potential for applications in both technical and medical domains. Physicochemical property characterization is a critical evaluation method for gels. Common characterization techniques include pH measurement, structural analysis, mecha...

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Main Authors: Enzhao Wang, Zhaoying Qi, Yuzhou Cao, Ruixiang Li, Jing Wu, Rongshuang Tang, Yi Gao, Ruofei Du, Minchen Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/249
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author Enzhao Wang
Zhaoying Qi
Yuzhou Cao
Ruixiang Li
Jing Wu
Rongshuang Tang
Yi Gao
Ruofei Du
Minchen Liu
author_facet Enzhao Wang
Zhaoying Qi
Yuzhou Cao
Ruixiang Li
Jing Wu
Rongshuang Tang
Yi Gao
Ruofei Du
Minchen Liu
author_sort Enzhao Wang
collection DOAJ
description Gels constitute a versatile class of materials with considerable potential for applications in both technical and medical domains. Physicochemical property characterization is a critical evaluation method for gels. Common characterization techniques include pH measurement, structural analysis, mechanical property assessment, rheological analysis, and phase transition studies, among others. While numerous research articles report characterization results, few reviews comprehensively summarize the appropriate numerical ranges for these properties. This lack of standardization complicates harmonized evaluation methods and hinders direct comparisons between different gels. To address this gap, it is essential to systematically investigate characterization methods and analyze data from the extensive body of literature on gels. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of general characterization methods and present a detailed analysis of gel characterization data to support future research and promote standardized evaluation protocols.
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series Pharmaceutics
spelling doaj-art-72fa576a8a3c44c6a6ed0d98bf0131bb2025-08-20T02:44:54ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-02-0117224910.3390/pharmaceutics17020249Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent ApplicationsEnzhao Wang0Zhaoying Qi1Yuzhou Cao2Ruixiang Li3Jing Wu4Rongshuang Tang5Yi Gao6Ruofei Du7Minchen Liu8Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaInnovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaSchool of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, SingaporeInnovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaInnovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaInnovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaInnovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, ChinaGels constitute a versatile class of materials with considerable potential for applications in both technical and medical domains. Physicochemical property characterization is a critical evaluation method for gels. Common characterization techniques include pH measurement, structural analysis, mechanical property assessment, rheological analysis, and phase transition studies, among others. While numerous research articles report characterization results, few reviews comprehensively summarize the appropriate numerical ranges for these properties. This lack of standardization complicates harmonized evaluation methods and hinders direct comparisons between different gels. To address this gap, it is essential to systematically investigate characterization methods and analyze data from the extensive body of literature on gels. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of general characterization methods and present a detailed analysis of gel characterization data to support future research and promote standardized evaluation protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/249gelsphysicochemical property characterizationorganogelhydrogelrheological propertygel structure
spellingShingle Enzhao Wang
Zhaoying Qi
Yuzhou Cao
Ruixiang Li
Jing Wu
Rongshuang Tang
Yi Gao
Ruofei Du
Minchen Liu
Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications
Pharmaceutics
gels
physicochemical property characterization
organogel
hydrogel
rheological property
gel structure
title Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications
title_full Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications
title_fullStr Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications
title_full_unstemmed Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications
title_short Gels as Promising Delivery Systems: Physicochemical Property Characterization and Recent Applications
title_sort gels as promising delivery systems physicochemical property characterization and recent applications
topic gels
physicochemical property characterization
organogel
hydrogel
rheological property
gel structure
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/249
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