Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) printing have emerged as powerful manufacturing strategies for the precise fabrication of polymer- and hydrogel-based materials with programmable structure, mechanics, and function. By integrating polymer chemistry, materials design, and advanced printing technologies, it is now possible to engineer soft matter systems that dynamically respond to environmental cues such as temperature, hydration, pH, or mechanical stress.1,2
In this presentation, I will discuss our recent advances in the 3D and 4D printing of functional polymers and hydrogels,3 with a particular focus on structure–property–function relationships enabled by rational materials design. Our work combines tailored polymer networks, composite and hybrid formulations, and stimuli-responsive chemistries to create printed constructs with spatially controlled mechanical gradients, biofunctionality, and time-dependent shape or property transformations. Emphasis will be placed on hydrogel systems engineered for biological and biomedical contexts, including soft robotics, tissue-mimetic scaffolds, and dynamic in vitro models.
By moving beyond static architectures, 4D printing introduces a temporal dimension that allows printed materials to adapt, reconfigure, or evolve post-fabrication.4 This approach opens new opportunities for designing smart polymer systems that bridge fundamental polymer chemistry with real-world applications. The talk will highlight key chemical design principles, printing strategies, and future directions for translating 3D/4D-printed polymer and hydrogel materials into impactful technologies.