Design, Fabrication, and Applications of Bioinspired Strong and Tough Hydrogels

ABSTRACT Since the advent of synthetic hydrogels, their capabilities have expanded steadily, and their application landscape has broadened. However, low strength and toughness continue to hinder engineering deployment. Despite notable progress in high‐strength, tough hydrogels, the inherent strength‐toughness trade‐off remains unresolved. Bioinspired structural design has emerged as a powerful paradigm to overcome this limitation. This review synthesizes recent advances in strong and tough hydrogels through a dimension‐based framework (spanning one‐dimensional fibers, two‐dimensional films, and three‐dimensional bulk architectures) by examining biological archetypes, fabrication strategies, structural–property relationships, and application potentials. We elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which bioinspired designs enhance mechanical performance and outline pathways for their implementation in functional systems. We highlight the convergence of interdisciplinary approaches with advanced manufacturing technologies as key to enabling scalable and adaptive hydrogel systems for use in flexible electronics, tissue engineering, and intelligent soft robotics.