Strong and Tough High-water Content Double-network Hydrogels

Shu-Xing Yin; Guo-Jun Che; Cheng Qian; Meng Yu; Can Zhou; Sheng-Wen Kong; Chuang-Qi Zhao; Lei Jiang

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3684-8

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Strong and Tough High-water Content Double-network Hydrogels

Special Topic: Functional Gels | Updated：2026-05-30

- Strong and Tough High-water Content Double-network Hydrogels
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 6, Pages: 1738-1748(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
  b.State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
- Author bio：
  
  kongsw@ustc.edu.cn (S.W.K.)
  zhaochuangqi@ustc.edu.cn (C.Q.Z.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3684-8
  CLC：
- Received：27 February 2026，
  
  Accepted：26 March 2026，
  
  Online First：20 May 2026，
  
  Published：05 June 2026
- Accepted：
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Yin, S. X.; Che, G. J.; Qian, C.; Yu, M.; Zhou, C.; Kong, S. W.; Zhao, C. Q.; Jiang, L. Strong and tough high-water content double-network hydrogels. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1738–1748

Shu-Xing Yin, Guo-Jun Che, Cheng Qian, et al. Strong and Tough High-water Content Double-network Hydrogels[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(6): 1738-1748.
Yin, S. X.; Che, G. J.; Qian, C.; Yu, M.; Zhou, C.; Kong, S. W.; Zhao, C. Q.; Jiang, L. Strong and tough high-water content double-network hydrogels. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1738–1748 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3684-8.

Shu-Xing Yin, Guo-Jun Che, Cheng Qian, et al. Strong and Tough High-water Content Double-network Hydrogels[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(6): 1738-1748. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3684-8.

摘要

This study proposes a strategy to fabricate strong and tough double-network hydrogels through multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Network densification endows hydrogels with exceptional mechanical performance. Moreover

the hydrogel possessed a high water content (up to 95%) and excellent biocompatibility.

Abstract

Hydrogels have been widely used in tissue engineering and biomedical applications owing to their high water content and tunable functionality. Nevertheless

high water content and loosely cross-linked networks restrict the mechanical properties of hydrogels and their practical applications. Herein

we present a facile approach for designing strong and tough bacterial cellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) (BC/PVA) double-network hydrogels involving immersing BC into PVA solutions and then freezing-thawing. The PVA chains encapsulate the BC nanofibers through hydrogen bonding interactions and chain entanglement

infiltrate the fibrous network

and thereby enhance the densification of the BC/PVA hydrogel. Concurrently

repetitive freeze-thaw cycles facilitate the regulation of PVA chain conformation and promote PVA crystallization

which increases the rigidity of the PVA segments. The resulted hydrogel demonstrates an exceptional tensile strength of (2.13±0.03) MPa

a remarkable toughness of (1.15±0.03) MJ·m

–3

and a high water content of up to 95%. Furthermore

the double-network hydrogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility. This study offers a practical strategy for the design of robust and tough hydrogels with potential utility in biomedical applications.

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references

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