Traditional hydrogels are strong candidates for biomedical applications; however, they may suffer from drawbacks such as weak mechanics, static properties, and an inability to fully replicate aspects of the cellular microenvironment. These challenges can be addressed through the incorporation of second networks to form interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels. The objective of this review is to establish clear trends on the enhanced functionality achieved by incorporating secondary networks into traditional, biopolymer-based hydrogels. These include mechanical reinforcement, ‘smart’ systems that respond to external stimuli, and the ability to tune cell–material interactions. Through attention to network structure and chemistry, IPN hydrogels may advance to meet challenging criteria for a wide range of biomedical fields.

传统水凝胶是生物医学应用的有力候选者；然而，它们可能存在一些缺点，例如力学较弱、静态特性以及无法完全复制细胞微环境的各个方面。这些挑战可以通过结合第二网络形成互穿聚合物网络（IPN）水凝胶来解决。本次审查的目的是确定通过将二级网络纳入传统的基于生物聚合物的水凝胶所实现的增强功能的明确趋势。其中包括机械强化、响应外部刺激的“智能”系统以及调节细胞与材料相互作用的能力。通过对网络结构和化学的关注，IPN 水凝胶可能会进步以满足广泛生物医学领域的挑战性标准。