The immune system plays a pivotal role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and influencing disease processes. Dysregulated immune responses drive chronic inflammation, which in turn results in a range of diseases that are among the leading causes of death globally. Traditional immune interventions, which aim to regulate either insufficient or excessive inflammation, frequently entail lifelong comorbidities and the risk of severe side effects. In this context, intrinsic immunomodulatory hydrogels, designed to precisely control the local immune microenvironment, have recently attracted increasing attention. In particular, these advanced hydrogels not only function as delivery mechanisms but also actively engage in immune modulation, optimizing interactions with the immune system for enhanced tissue repair, thereby providing a sophisticated strategy for managing chronic inflammation. In this tutorial review, we outline key elements of chronic inflammation and subsequently explore the strategic design principles of intrinsic immunomodulatory hydrogels based on these elements. Finally, we examine the challenges and prospects of such immunomodulatory hydrogels, which are expected to inspire further preclinical research and clinical translation in addressing chronic inflammation.

中文翻译：

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用于慢性炎症的内源性免疫调节水凝胶


免疫系统在维持生理稳态和影响疾病过程方面起着关键作用。免疫反应失调会驱动慢性炎症，进而导致一系列疾病，这些疾病是全球死亡的主要原因之一。传统的免疫干预旨在调节炎症不足或过度，通常会导致终生合并症和严重副作用的风险。在此背景下，旨在精确控制局部免疫微环境的内源性免疫调节水凝胶最近引起了越来越多的关注。特别是，这些先进的水凝胶不仅起递送机制的作用，还积极参与免疫调节，优化与免疫系统的相互作用以增强组织修复，从而为管理慢性炎症提供复杂的策略。在本教程综述中，我们概述了慢性炎症的关键要素，随后探讨了基于这些要素的内源性免疫调节水凝胶的战略设计原则。最后，我们研究了这种免疫调节水凝胶的挑战和前景，有望激发进一步的临床前研究和临床转化以解决慢性炎症。