Phase separation in living organisms is essential for the execution of biological functions, for example, the formation of membrane-less organelles and the functionalization of extracellular matrix proteins. In synthetic soft matter, gels have similarities to biological tissues due to their wet/soft properties and good biocompatibility. However, conventional gels with homogeneous networks are mechanically intolerant and unstable in solvent, which restricts their applications in various fields. Inspired by protein phase transitions of cellular processes in organisms, micro-phase separation is introduced into gel networks and devolved a series of robust functionalities gel materials. In this review, the critical design criteria and fabrication strategies of gel materials with micro-phase separation are summarized. Then, the multiple functionalities of these materials are systemically reviewed, including surface engineering, mechanical properties, shape memory, and sensor properties. Furthermore, we explore the current challenges and prospects in bioinspired micro-phase-separated gel field.

活生物体中的相分离对于生物功能的执行至关重要，例如无膜细胞器的形成和细胞外基质蛋白的功能化。在合成软物质中，凝胶由于其湿/软特性和良好的生物相容性而与生物组织相似。然而，具有均质网络的传统凝胶在机械上不耐受并且在溶剂中不稳定，这限制了它们在各个领域的应用。受生物体细胞过程的蛋白质相变的启发，微相分离被引入凝胶网络并衍生出一系列强大功能的凝胶材料。在这篇综述中，总结了微相分离凝胶材料的关键设计标准和制造策略。然后，系统地评价了这些材料的多种功能，包括表面工程、机械性能、形状记忆和传感器性能。此外，我们还探讨了仿生微相分离凝胶领域当前的挑战和前景。