Functional Hydrogels: Principles, Intelligent Design and Application

Dear Colleagues,

Functional hydrogels represent a class of advanced soft materials characterized by high water content, tunable physicochemical properties, and dynamic responsiveness to external stimuli. Their structural design is built upon principles of polymer network formation—through covalent crosslinking, physical entanglement, or supramolecular interactions—which endow them with unique mechanical integrity, swelling behavior, and biocompatibility. These foundational principles enable hydrogels to closely mimic the extracellular matrix, making them particularly suitable for biomedical and bioengineering applications.

Intelligent design lies at the forefront of functional hydrogel development. By integrating stimuli-responsive polymers and functional additives, hydrogels can be engineered to respond dynamically to environmental cues such as pH, temperature, redox potential, light, or specific biomolecules. Examples include ROS-responsive hydrogels for targeted drug delivery in oxidative stress environments and pH-sensitive hydrogels for controlled release in acidic tumor microenvironments. Advances in molecular design, nanofabrication, and 3D bioprinting further allow for precise spatial and temporal control over hydrogel structure and function, supporting applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and soft robotics.

In practice, functional hydrogels are increasingly employed across diverse domains. In biomedicine, they serve as scaffolds for bone and soft tissue regeneration, wound dressings with bioactive release, and carriers for cells and therapeutic agents. Beyond healthcare, their adaptability extends to environmental remediation, flexible electronics, and responsive sensors. Looking ahead, the convergence of multi-stimuli responsiveness, enhanced mechanical resilience, and scalable fabrication will continue to expand the horizon of functional hydrogels, paving the way for next-generation smart materials tailored to complex biological and industrial challenges.

Dr. Yanan Zhao
Prof. Dr. Pengchao Zhang
Guest Editors

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