Chapter 11: Dynamic Hydrogel

This chapter summarizes the recent progress in the fabrication of hydrogels for in vitro mechanobiological applications as well as the related progress, challenges, and opportunities, focusing on dynamic hydrogels. Here, we intend to define “dynamic” as having two different meanings: switchable and adaptive. The first part of this chapter, we describe the basic design strategies used to realise “switchable” hydrogels that can change their elastic moduli in response to chemical and physical stimuli. Excellent studies on switchable hydrogels, along with the elaborate molecular mechanism hidden behind them, are explained. The last part of this chapter introduces recent research showcasing adaptive hydrogels. We particularly focus on the control of hydrogel stress relaxation in the study of mechanobiology.