The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for a wide range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wearable skin patches. However, conventional hydrogels often exhibit intrinsically low mechanical strength, and enhancing both mechanical robustness and tissue adhesiveness simultaneously remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present an approach to engineer hydrogel networks by finely tuning their mechanical and adhesive properties. Through precise reconstruction of the polymer architecture and introduction of additional crosslinking, we developed hydrogels with markedly improved tensile strength, toughness, and interfacial adhesion to biological tissues. These engineered hydrogels offer promising potential for biomedical applications that demand both mechanical durability and reliable integration with soft tissues.