Recent advances in 4D printing of hydrogels

Abstract

4D printing, the fabrication of dynamic 3D objects, has emerged as a frontier in additive manufacturing, benefiting from rapid advancements in 3D printing technologies and the development of new stimuli-responsive materials. Among the diverse materials explored for 4D printing, the hydrogel, renowned for its exceptional flexibility, biocompatibility, and tunable mechanical properties, is a class of soft materials well-suited for 4D printing. In addition to selecting and developing appropriate stimuli-responsive materials, it is important to devise suitable printing strategies to enable the fabrication of hydrogel-based structures that can perform complex shape-changing under external stimuli in various applications, such as soft robotics and biomedical areas. In view of this, various printing strategies, including structural design, printing scheme, and stimuli control are systematically summarized. This review aims to provide an up-to-date evolution of 4D-printed hydrogels and insights into the utilization of these printing strategies and printing techniques, such as direct ink writing, stereolithography, and two-photon polymerization, in the 4D printing of hydrogel structures for specific functions and applications.