This review discusses how biobased gels enhance functionality in various applications, suggesting sustainable alternatives to plastics.
With over 400 million tons of plastic waste generated annually, developing advanced soft matter from renewable biomass is critical for carbon neutrality. Bio‐based gels offer exceptional biocompatibility and degradability, emerging as sustainable alternatives to petroleum‐based polymers. However, native biopolymers suffer from weak mechanical properties, poor environmental adaptability, and limited functionality, restricting their practical applications. To overcome these bottlenecks, recent research focuses on multiscale network topology reconstruction and synergistic enhancement of dynamic interactions. This review constructs a comprehensive framework from “biomass raw materials” to “functionalized design” and “high‐value applications.” We elucidate microscopic mechanisms driving toughening, self‐healing, and extreme environmental tolerance, including dual‐network entanglement, nanocomposites, and medium engineering. Furthermore, we discuss transformative applications of functionalized bio‐based gels in biomedical engineering, flexible electronics, environmental remediation, smart packaging, and green energy storage.
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Li et al. (2026) studied this question.
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