The Swollen Polymer Network Model of Hydrogel Design: Opportunities in Limitations

ABSTRACT Hydrogels are water‐swollen polymer networks (SPNs) with applications as biomaterials, adhesives, and signal transducers. The SPN model coordinates fundamental theories to predict hydrogel physical properties of swelling, stiffness, and solute transport based on the hydrogel's structure. Having shown that the SPN model is effective for decoupling stiffness and solute transport in multi‐arm poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels, the next objectives are to further refine the fundamental accuracy of the SPN model, its breadth of applicability to different hydrogel systems, and the properties that can be accurately predicted through the model. To support a broader effort of hydrogel structure–property modeling, this article discusses limitations and opportunities for the SPN model and shares an outlook for model‐based hydrogel design.