Rational Design of Mechanically Optimized Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Review

Bone tissue engineering, as an important branch of regenerative medicine, integrates multidisciplinary knowledge from cell biology, materials science, and biomechanics, aiming to develop novel biomaterials and technologies for functional repair and regeneration of bone tissue. Hydrogels are among the most commonly used scaffold materials; however, conventional hydrogels exhibit significant limitations in physical properties such as strength, tensile strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance, which severely restrict their application in load-bearing bone defect repair. As a result, the development of high-strength hydrogels has become a research hotspot in the field of bone tissue engineering. This paper systematically reviews the latest research progress in this area: First, it delves into the physicochemical characteristics of high-strength hydrogels at the molecular level, focusing on core features such as their crosslinking network structure, dynamic bonding mechanisms, and energy dissipation principles. Next, it categorically summarizes novel high-strength hydrogel systems and different types of biomimetic hydrogels developed based on various reinforcement strategies. Furthermore, it provides a detailed evaluation of the application effects of these advanced materials in specific anatomical sites, including cranial reconstruction, femoral repair, alveolar bone regeneration, and articular cartilage repair. This review aims to provide systematic theoretical guidance and technical references for the basic research and clinical translation of high-strength hydrogels in bone tissue engineering, promoting the effective translation of this field from laboratory research to clinical application.