Work

A versatile and simple rectangular-topology strategy enables robust hydrogels

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High‑strength, tough hydrogels are urgently needed for biomedicine and soft robotics, yet single‑network architectures suffer from an inherent trade‑off between mechanical robustness and high water content. Herein, we propose a rectangular topological network (RN) composed of rectangular motifs in a single-network hydrogel via stoichiometric crosslinking of long and short polymer chains. This architecture achieves a high elastic modulus via dense intermolecular hydrogen bonds while maintaining large mesh sizes. Driven by a strain-induced hardening mechanism, the hydrogel achieves a simultaneous increase in strength and toughness. Successful fabrication using two crosslinkers demonstrates broad applicability. A representative PEG‑based RN hydrogel exhibits a Young’s modulus of 21.97 MPa, a toughness of 31.04 MJ·m−3, and a tensile strength of 7.72 MPa. Thus, we show that this facile and versatile RN strategy offers a route for high‑energy dissipation and can be extended to other platforms. Tough hydrogels have potential in a range of applications, but balancing mechanical robustness and high water content is challenging. Here, the authors report the development a rectangular topological network for high mechanical robustness in a single network hydrogel.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76723-w

Authors: Zixuan Yang, Yu Zhang, Zhen Huang, Liangyong Chu, Lingjie Zhang, Ningzhong Bao