Cold Sintering of Hydrogels: Opportunities and Roadmap for a Nascent Field

ABSTRACT Cold sintering process (CSP) has recently emerged as a transformative low‐temperature route for densifying ceramics and hybrid materials. While hydrogels are central to biofunctional systems due to their water‐rich and dynamic polymer networks, their integration with CSP has not yet been systematically explored. Rather than surveying an established body of literature, this Perspective outlines the conceptual framework, opportunities, and challenges at the intersection of CSP and hydrogels. We first highlight fundamental compatibilities, such as plasticization, pressure‐assisted reorganization, and ionic crosslinking, that suggest CSP could enable mechanically robust yet biofunctional hydrogel composites. We then discuss anticipated advantages, including enhanced structural integrity, hybridization with ceramics, and expanded applications in biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Finally, we identify critical gaps, including the lack of systematic studies, potential risks of misrepresentation of hydrogel behavior under CSP conditions, and the need for cross‐disciplinary validation. By framing CSP‐hydrogel integration as a nascent but promising research frontier, this article aims to provide a roadmap for future experimental studies and to encourage dialog across materials science, chemistry, and bioengineering communities.