Interfacial Assembly of Microgels: From Granular Hydrogels to Programmable Materials

Abstract

Hydrogels assembled from microgels offer a modular alternative to conventional bulk polymer networks, enabling tunable structure and function through bottom-up design. Despite rapid progress in granular hydrogels, particle-particle interfaces are often treated primarily as means of stabilization rather than as programmable design elements. In this perspective, microgel interfaces are proposed as a central design space that governs the assembly, mechanics, and biological function of granular hydrogels. By reframing microgel assemblies through the lens of interfacial engineering, this highlights how control over interfacial interactions can be leveraged to design complex, multicomponent, and hierarchically organized materials. This perspective is intended to inspire new directions toward adaptive microgel-based systems with enhanced functionality.