Applications of Functional Hydrogels in Biomedicine

The realm of biomaterials engineering has witnessed transformative growth with the advent of functional hydrogels—polymeric networks engineered for compatibility with biological tissues and responsive to physiological cues. Recent years have brought forth significant advancements in designing hydrogels capable of dynamic responses to varied microenvironmental factors, such as changes in pH, enzymatic activity, and mechanical stress, mirroring the complexity present in living systems. Despite robust progress, the intricate interplay between hydrogel properties and their biological performance remains a topic of considerable investigation. Ongoing challenges persist in achieving precise control over hydrogel functionality, understanding mechanisms of interaction at biointerfaces, and translating innovative hydrogels from laboratory research to practical, safe, and effective biomedical interventions.This Research Topic aims to illuminate cutting-edge advances in the rational design and biomedical application of functional hydrogels. It emphasizes uncovering key relationships between hydrogel composition, internal architecture, and emergent properties—such as tunable mechanics, tailored degradability, and on-demand biological responses—that drive innovation in outcomes like targeted drug delivery, cell-material communication, and tissue adaptation. The overarching objective is to foster mechanistic understanding linking hydrogel properties to critical application metrics, including bioactivity, integration with living tissues, and the ability to sense and adapt to biological processes. Central questions include how programmable design imparts functional specificity, how adaptive hydrogels mediate complex therapeutic or diagnostic tasks, and how new fabrication strategies can resolve existing reproducibility and scalability issues.This Research Topic is focused on advanced functional hydrogels for biomedical applications, with exclusions for reports centered solely on clinical outcomes rather than material innovation. We welcome articles exploring, but not limited to, the following themes:o Stimuli-responsive and adaptive hydrogels for controlled therapeutic deliveryo Hydrogel innovations for tissue engineering and regenerative medicineo Bioactive interfaces governing cell-material interactions and tissue integrationo Hydrogel-based systems for biosensing, actuation, or closed-loop feedbacko Structure–property relationships influencing transport, mechanics, and biological responseo Approaches to scalable fabrication, long-term stability, and reproducibility of hydrogel systemso Multifunctional injectable or micro-/nanoengineered hydrogel platformso Integrative studies on biosafety, standardization, and translation readinessIn addition to original research, we encourage the submission of reviews, perspectives, methodological advances, and reports offering mechanistic insight or standardization frameworks relevant to functional hydrogel development. Topic editors: Yannan Liu, Yingchun Li, Hui Yin Nam Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80567/applications-of-functional-hydrogels-in-biomedicine