The mechanical properties of polymer gels devote to emerging devices and machines in fields such as biomedical engineering, flexible bioelectronics, biomimetic actuators, and energy harvesters. Coupling network architectures and interactions has been explored to regulate supportive mechanical characteristics of polymer gels; however, systematic reviews correlating mechanics to interaction forces at the molecular and structural levels remain absent in the field. This review highlights the molecular engineering and structural engineering of polymer gel mechanics and a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of mechanical regulation. Molecular engineering alters molecular architecture and manipulates functional groups/moieties at the molecular level, introducing various interactions and permanent or reversible dynamic bonds as the dissipative energy. Molecular engineering usually uses monomers, cross-linkers, chains, and other additives. Structural engineering utilizes casting methods, solvent phase regulation, mechanochemistry, macromolecule chemical reactions, and biomanufacturing technology to construct and tailor the topological network structures, or heterogeneous modulus compositions. We envision that the perfect combination of molecular and structural engineering may provide a fresh view to extend exciting new perspectives of this burgeoning field. This review also summarizes recent representative applications of polymer gels with excellent mechanical properties. Conclusions and perspectives are also provided from five aspects of concise summary, mechanical mechanism, biofabrication methods, upgraded applications, and synergistic methodology.

中文翻译：

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聚合物凝胶的机械调节


聚合物凝胶的机械性能致力于生物医学工程、柔性生物电子学、仿生执行器和能量采集器等领域的新兴设备和机器。已经探索了耦合网络结构和相互作用来调节聚合物凝胶的支持性机械特性；然而，该领域仍然缺乏将力学与分子和结构水平上的相互作用力相关联的系统评价。本综述重点介绍了聚合物凝胶力学的分子工程和结构工程以及对机械调节的全面机械理解。分子工程改变分子结构并在分子水平上操纵官能团/部分，引入各种相互作用和永久或可逆动态键作为耗散能。分子工程通常使用单体、交联剂、链和其他添加剂。结构工程利用铸造方法、溶剂相调节、机械化学、高分子化学反应和生物制造技术来构建和定制拓扑网络结构或异质模量组合物。我们设想，分子和结构工程的完美结合可能会提供一个新的视角，以扩展这个新兴领域的令人兴奋的新视角。本综述还总结了具有优异机械性能的聚合物凝胶的最新代表性应用。还从简明总结、机械机制、生物制造方法、升级应用和协同方法论五个方面提供了结论和观点。