Abstract
Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) cross-linked polymer networks, which can absorb and retain large amount of water. Because of their tunable properties as well as their versatile fabrication methods, hydrogel materials have been applied in a wide range of biomedical and engineering applications, ranging from tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to wastewater treatment and soft robotics. In this chapter, different synthesis methods of hydrogels are first reviewed, followed by the discussion on the commonly used methods for characterizing different properties of the hydrogels. Self-healing hydrogels and tough hydrogels are introduced and reviewed as two types of advanced hydrogels with special characteristics. Advances in molecular design for self-healing and tough hydrogels as well as the corresponding self-healing and toughening mechanisms are reviewed and discussed, respectively.
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