Hydrogels — water-insoluble, three-dimensional networks of polymer chains — are used as biomaterials in various biomedical and clinical applications. Their modularity and versatility have led to the development of increasingly complex hydrogels, which can dynamically respond to their environment, release drugs and regenerate cells and tissues. In this Review, we present a model-based modular hydrogel design framework that is application-driven and considers clinical translation early in the design process. In this approach, every component of the hydrogel formulation is optimized towards multifaceted design criteria of the target application, identifying how multiple properties can be integrated into a single formulation. We highlight the fundamental models of polymer physics that provide the basis of modular hydrogel design and examine how synthetic polymer precursors can be integrated to achieve such modularity. Finally, we discuss clinically approved hydrogel formulations, and investigate how challenges in clinical translation may be addressed by a modular design approach.
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