{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T12:52:08Z","timestamp":1791982328691,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]],"date-time":"2026-05-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780012800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"RSU internal and RSU with LSPA external consolidation","award":["No 5.2.1.1.i.0\/2\/24\/I\/CFLA\/005"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["No 5.2.1.1.i.0\/2\/24\/I\/CFLA\/005"]}]},{"name":"Researcher Grant \u201cHigh Hydrostatic Pressure: A Dual-Function Method for Processing and Steri-lizing Drug-Loaded Hydrogels\u201d","award":["RSU-ZG-2024\/1\u20130002"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RSU-ZG-2024\/1\u20130002"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Sterilization is essential for hydrogel-based biomaterials, but it can also determine the final material state. This study used ionically crosslinked alginate hydrogels as a model system to evaluate sterilization as a coupled process linking microbial inactivation and hydrogel structural reorganization. Steam sterilization, gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide (EtO), ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment were assessed within the same model system. Microbiological effectiveness was assessed using surface- and matrix-associated contamination models, while structural responses were evaluated by rheology, dimensional changes, and swelling behavior. Steam sterilization, gamma irradiation, EtO, and selected HHP conditions resulted in no detectable microbial growth under the tested conditions, whereas UV irradiation was insufficient to eliminate detectable growth from matrix-associated contamination. However, microbiologically effective treatments produced distinct material profiles. Steam generated a compact and stiff hydrogel state, gamma irradiation produced softened but deformation-tolerant networks, EtO caused pronounced dimensional alteration and high deformability, and HHP produced softened, water-accessible hydrogels with parameter-dependent responses. These findings show that sterilization method selection should integrate microbial inactivation with the final structural state required for application-specific hydrogel performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels12060478","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T11:25:31Z","timestamp":1780399531000},"page":"478","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["The Trade-Off Between Sterility and Structural Integrity in Sterilized Alginate Hydrogels"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-7231-4748","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Kaufelde","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Finished Dosage Forms, Faculty of Pharmacy, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia"},{"name":"Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence, Headquarters at Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-7144-461X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anete","family":"Vircava","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4044-8750","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ingus","family":"Skadi\u0146\u0161","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence, Headquarters at Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia"},{"name":"Department of Biology and Microbiology, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kristi\u0101na","family":"Rubeze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence, Headquarters at Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia"},{"name":"Department of Biology and Microbiology, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4458-7328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jevgenijs","family":"Proskurins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physics, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4780-0852","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Konstant\u012bns","family":"Logviss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Finished Dosage Forms, Faculty of Pharmacy, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia"},{"name":"Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence, Headquarters at Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1194-0746","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Agnese","family":"Brangule","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence, Headquarters at Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia"},{"name":"Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2472","DOI":"10.1002\/jbm.b.34048","article-title":"Sterilization of hydrogels for biomedical applications: A review","volume":"106","author":"Galante","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B Appl. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122671","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpharm.2023.122671","article-title":"A review of conventional and emerging technologies for hydrogels sterilization","volume":"634","author":"Bento","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"252","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2014.11.024","article-title":"Biomedical applications of hydrogels: A review of patents and commercial products","volume":"65","author":"Khutoryanskiy","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. Polym. J."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jacob, S., Nair, A.B., Shah, J., Sreeharsha, N., Gupta, S., and Shinu, P. (2021). Emerging Role of Hydrogels in Drug Delivery Systems, Tissue Engineering and Wound Management. Pharmaceutics, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics13030357"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2017.07.028","article-title":"Manufacturing of hydrogel biomaterials with controlled mechanical properties for tissue engineering applications","volume":"62","author":"Vedadghavami","year":"2017","journal-title":"Acta Biomater."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138098","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2024.138098","article-title":"Hydrogels and hydrogel-based drug delivery systems for promoting refractory wound healing: Applications and prospects","volume":"285","author":"Lin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"150403","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cej.2024.150403","article-title":"Engineering multifunctional dynamic hydrogel for biomedical and tissue regenerative applications","volume":"487","author":"Yin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. J."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"877","DOI":"10.1002\/jbm.b.33070","article-title":"Terminal sterilization of alginate hydrogels: Efficacy and impact on mechanical properties","volume":"102","author":"Stoppel","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B Appl. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"rbaf005","DOI":"10.1093\/rb\/rbaf005","article-title":"Balancing sterilization and functional properties in Poloxamer 407 hydrogels: Comparing heat and radiation techniques","volume":"12","author":"Pal","year":"2025","journal-title":"Regen. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5191","DOI":"10.1021\/acsbiomaterials.0c00806","article-title":"Effects of Autoclaving, EtOH, and UV Sterilization on the Chemical, Mechanical, Printability, and Biocompatibility Characteristics of Alginate","volume":"6","author":"Chansoria","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1017\/ice.2020.2","article-title":"Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization","volume":"41","author":"Rutala","year":"2020","journal-title":"Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Szeto, W., Yam, W.C., Huang, H., and Leung, D.Y.C. (2020). The efficacy of vacuum-ultraviolet light disinfection of some common environmental pathogens. BMC Infect. Dis., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-020-4847-9"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1093\/femsre\/fuw005","article-title":"Escherichia coli: An old friend with new tidings","volume":"40","author":"Vila","year":"2016","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"442","DOI":"10.1007\/s12393-020-09271-8","article-title":"Bacterial injury induced by high hydrostatic pressure","volume":"13","author":"Yamamoto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Eng. Rev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1111\/jam.13751","article-title":"State of the art of nonthermal and thermal processing for inactivation of micro-organisms","volume":"125","author":"Smet","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Appl. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1605(02)00054-5","article-title":"Bacterial inactivation by high-pressure homogenisation and high hydrostatic pressure","volume":"77","author":"Wuytack","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"586561","article-title":"Effects of gamma irradiation on bacterial microflora associated with human amniotic membrane","volume":"2013","author":"Atique","year":"2013","journal-title":"BioMed Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moore, G., Ali, S., Cloutman-Green, E.A., Bradley, C.R., Wilkinson, M.A.C., Hartley, J.C., Fraise, A.P., and Wilson, A.P.R. (2012). Use of UV-C radiation to disinfect non-critical patient care items: A laboratory assessment of the Nanoclave Cabinet. BMC Infect. Dis., 12.","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2334-12-174"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ahmed, M.S., Islam, M., Hasan, M.K., and Nam, K.-W. (2024). A comprehensive review of radiation-induced hydrogels: Synthesis, properties, and multidimensional applications. Gels, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/gels10060381"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Florowska, A., Florowski, T., Kruszewski, B., Janiszewska-Turak, E., Bykowska, W., and Ksibi, N. (2023). Thermal and modern, non-thermal method induction as a factor of modification of inulin hydrogel properties. Foods, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12224154"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"065017","DOI":"10.1088\/1748-605X\/aba40c","article-title":"Effect of sterilization treatment on mechanical properties, biodegradation, bioactivity and printability of GelMA hydrogels","volume":"15","author":"Rizwan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biomed. Mater."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rosiak, P., Latanska, I., Paul, P., Sujka, W., and Kolesinska, B. (2021). Modification of alginates to modulate their physic-chemical properties and obtain biomaterials with different functional properties. Molecules, 26.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26237264"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"100363","article-title":"Effect of steam sterilisation on physico-chemical properties of antibacterial covalently cross-linked \u03b5-polylysine\/hyaluronic acid hydrogels","volume":"6","author":"Sceglovs","year":"2023","journal-title":"Carbohydr. Polym. Technol. Appl."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1002\/bit.10287","article-title":"Low-temperature electron microscopy for the study of polysaccharide ultrastructures in hydrogels. II. Effect of temperature on the structure of Ca2+-alginate beads","volume":"79","author":"Serp","year":"2002","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Bioeng."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1002\/adv.21543","article-title":"The effects of moist heat sterilization process and the presence of electrolytes on rheological and textural properties of hydrophilic dispersions of polymers-hydrogels","volume":"35","year":"2016","journal-title":"Adv. Polym. Technol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"578","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.086","article-title":"Ions-induced gelation of alginate: Mechanisms and applications","volume":"177","author":"Hu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1016\/j.progpolymsci.2011.06.003","article-title":"Alginate: Properties and biomedical applications","volume":"37","author":"Lee","year":"2012","journal-title":"Prog. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1002\/cphc.201501186","article-title":"Diffusion of oligonucleotides from within iron-cross-linked, polyelectrolyte-modified alginate beads: A Model System for Drug Release","volume":"17","author":"Privman","year":"2016","journal-title":"ChemPhysChem"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jcim.1c01076","article-title":"DEM-based approach for the modeling of gelation and its application to alginate","volume":"62","author":"Depta","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Chem. Inf. Model."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1021\/polymscitech.6c00001","article-title":"High entanglement in hydrogels: From polymer physics to robust mechanics","volume":"2","author":"Zhang","year":"2026","journal-title":"Polym. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6481","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.9b04096","article-title":"Sterilization methods and their influence on physicochemical properties and bioprinting of alginate as a bioink component","volume":"5","author":"Lorson","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4590","DOI":"10.1021\/bm501386n","article-title":"Influence of amino acids, buffers, and pH on the \u03b3-irradiation-induced degradation of alginates","volume":"15","author":"Ulset","year":"2014","journal-title":"Biomacromolecules"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chiozzi, V., Agriopoulou, S., and Varzakas, T. (2022). Advances, applications, and comparison of thermal (pasteurization, sterilization, and aseptic packaging) against non-thermal (ultrasounds, UV radiation, ozonation, high hydrostatic pressure) technologies in food processing. Appl. Sci., 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/app12042202"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.reth.2024.01.012","article-title":"High pressure pasteurization: Simultaneous native tissue decellularization and sterilization","volume":"26","author":"Otaka","year":"2024","journal-title":"Regen. Ther."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pires, T., Oliveira, A.S., Marques, A.C., Salema-Oom, M., Figueiredo-Pina, C.G., Silva, D., and Serro, A.P. (2022). Effects of non-conventional sterilisation methods on PBO-reinforced PVA hydrogels for cartilage replacement. Gels, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/gels8100640"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"659","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biotechadv.2010.04.001","article-title":"Development of high hydrostatic pressure in biosciences: Pressure effect on biological structures and potential applications in biotechnologies","volume":"28","author":"Rivalain","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Adv."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107662","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rineng.2025.107662","article-title":"High hydrostatic pressure sterilization: A resource optimization approach","volume":"28","author":"Vircava","year":"2025","journal-title":"Results Eng."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.1002\/jbm.b.31408","article-title":"Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus in calcium phosphate biomaterials via isostatic compression","volume":"91","author":"Brouillet","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B Appl. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4185","DOI":"10.1111\/ijfs.16758","article-title":"Meta-analysis: Microbial inactivation in milk using high-pressure processing (HPP)","volume":"59","author":"Kateh","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1007\/s10068-020-00831-6","article-title":"Microbial inactivation by high pressure processing: Principle, mechanism and factors responsible","volume":"30","author":"Sehrawat","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Sci. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ifset.2016.06.008","article-title":"Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus by high pressure processing: An overview","volume":"36","author":"Baptista","year":"2016","journal-title":"Innov. Food Sci. Emerg. Technol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yang, D., Li, R., Dong, P., Rao, L., Wang, Y., and Liao, X. (2023). Influence of pressurization rate and mode on cell damage of Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus by high hydrostatic pressure. Front. Microbiol., 14.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1108194"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fm.2014.09.016","article-title":"Evaluation of resistance development and viability recovery by toxigenic and non-toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains after repeated cycles of high hydrostatic pressure","volume":"46","author":"Baptista","year":"2015","journal-title":"Food Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nbt.2011.10.003","article-title":"High hydrostatic pressure treatment for the inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus in human blood plasma","volume":"29","author":"Rivalain","year":"2012","journal-title":"New Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3411","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-60459-8","article-title":"Inactivation of Listeria and E. coli by Deep-UV LED: Effect of substrate conditions on inactivation kinetics","volume":"10","author":"Cheng","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yeoh, L., Cogar, L., Barak, M., Tan, L.Y., Spargo, G., and Burdach, J. (2024). UV-C disinfection of ultrasound probes: Challenges of uneven irradiance on complex surfaces. PLoS ONE, 19.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0312931"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stojkov, G., Niyazov, Z., Picchioni, F., and Bose, R.K. (2021). Relationship between structure and rheology of hydrogels for various applications. Gels, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/gels7040255"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Budai, L., Budai, M., F\u00fcl\u00f6pn\u00e9 P\u00e1pay, Z.E., Vilimi, Z., and Antal, I. (2023). Rheological considerations of pharmaceutical formulations: Focus on viscoelasticity. Gels, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/gels9060469"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1021\/bp00001a008","article-title":"Effects of sterilization treatments on some properties of alginate solutions and gels","volume":"6","author":"Leo","year":"1990","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Prog."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moore, E., Cortese, Y.J., and Colbert, D.M. (2025). A Review of sterilization methods and their commercial impacts on polysaccharide-based biomaterials. Macromol, 5.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202507.1105.v1"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ferreira, I., Marques, A.C., Costa, P.C., and Amaral, M.H. (2023). Effects of steam sterilization on the properties of stimuli-responsive polymer-based hydrogels. Gels, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/gels9050385"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"574","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2006.10.014","article-title":"Ethylene oxide sterilization of medical devices: A review","volume":"35","author":"Mendes","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am. J. Infect. Control"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3225","DOI":"10.1111\/1541-4337.12763","article-title":"Aspects of high hydrostatic pressure food processing: Perspectives on technology and food safety","volume":"20","author":"Aganovic","year":"2021","journal-title":"Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2022.12.009","article-title":"Shedding a light on ultraviolet-C technologies in the hospital environment","volume":"132","author":"Demeersseman","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Hosp. Infect."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2941","DOI":"10.1021\/acsphotonics.0c01245","article-title":"A Critical review on ultraviolet disinfection systems against COVID-19 Outbreak: Applicability, Validation, and Safety Considerations","volume":"7","author":"Raeiszadeh","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Photonics"},{"key":"ref_56","first-page":"100058","article-title":"Application of tragacanth gum and alginate in hydrogel wound dressing\u2019s formation using gamma radiation","volume":"2","author":"Singh","year":"2021","journal-title":"Carbohydr. Polym. Technol. Appl."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.6000\/1929-5995.2026.15.05","article-title":"Effect of ethylene oxide sterilization on humic acid modified gelatin-alginate hydrogels","volume":"15","author":"Velianyk","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Res. Updates Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4051","DOI":"10.1021\/acsbiomaterials.0c00412","article-title":"High hydrostatic pressure as sterilization method for drug-loaded intraocular lenses","volume":"6","author":"Topete","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_59","first-page":"294","article-title":"Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses","volume":"16","author":"Gritz","year":"1990","journal-title":"CLAO J."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yu, P., Wei, L., Yang, Z., Liu, X., Ma, H., Zhao, J., Liu, L., Wang, L., Chen, R., and Cheng, Y. (2024). Hydrogel wound dressings accelerating healing process of wounds in movable parts. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 25.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms25126610"},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7430","DOI":"10.1039\/D5RA08269B","article-title":"Hydrogel-based drug delivery systems for enhanced tumor therapy","volume":"16","author":"Tian","year":"2026","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Segneanu, A.E., Bejenaru, L.E., Bejenaru, C., Blendea, A., Mogo\u015fanu, G.D., Bi\u0163\u0103, A., and Boia, E.R. (2025). Advancements in hydrogels: A comprehensive review of natural and synthetic innovations for biomedical applications. Polymers, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym17152026"},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2016.09.027","article-title":"Ca(II)+Ba(II) ions crosslinked alginate gels prepared by a novel diffusion through dialysis tube (DTDT) approach and preliminary BSA release study","volume":"134","author":"Bajpai","year":"2016","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_64","unstructured":"(2014). Sterilization of Health-Care Products\u2014Ethylene Oxide\u2014Requirements for the Development, Validation and Routine Control of a Sterilization Process for Medical Devices (Standard No. ISO 11135:2014)."},{"key":"ref_65","unstructured":"(2025). Sterilization of Health Care Products\u2014Radiation\u2014Part 1: Requirements for the Development, Validation and Routine Control of a Sterilization Process for Medical Devices (Standard No. ISO 11137-1:2025)."}],"container-title":["Gels"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/12\/6\/478\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T04:28:08Z","timestamp":1780633688000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/12\/6\/478"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]]},"references-count":65,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["gels12060478"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/gels12060478","relation":{},"ISSN":["2310-2861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2310-2861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]]}}}