Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels with three-dimensional (3D) network structures are commonly prepared through the physical, chemical, and enzymatic cross-linking of hydrophilic compounds. These hydrogels, which are swell in water while retaining a significant amount of it within their 3D structures, have widespread applications in the biomedical field, environmental protection, food engineering, wearable devices, etc. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in fabricating diverse functional hydrogel materials by designing functional monomers, dynamic cross-linking networks, and topological architectures. Consequently, in this Special Issue, we aim to invite original research and review articles on advanced functional hydrogels, addressing the latest advancements in the design, preparation, characterization, and application of hydrogels across various domains, including food, the environment, energy, medicine, biology, and smart wearable systems.

Prof. Dr. Li-Ming Zhang
Prof. Dr. Fei Song
Guest Editors