Dynamic regulation of interfacial adhesion in biomedical hydrogels

Abstract

Adhesive hydrogels represent a transformative technology in biomedicine due to their biocompatibility and multifunctionality. While extensive research has focused on improving their adhesion strength, the pursuit of long-term interfacial stability reveals a core conflict: strong adhesion often comes at the expense of easy removal. Dynamically regulating hydrogel adhesion is thus key to personalized medicine, allowing adaptation to complex clinical needs. Designing such systems demands a multifaceted approach that considers the physiological environment, medical requirements, stimulus-induced interfacial rearrangements, and mechanics-driven microstructure reconstruction. The dynamic regulation of hydrogel adhesion is more than a functional upgrade; it represents a paradigm shift for smart materials, from “static design” to “dynamic interaction”. This review first introduces the mechanisms of hydrogel adhesion. It then provides an in-depth analysis of strategies for dynamically regulating adhesion at the tissue–hydrogel interface and explores the latest progress and application potential in biomedicine.