Plant Polyphenols as a Multifunctional “Molecular Glue” for Driving Hydrogel Formation: From Mechanisms, Functions, and Manufacturing to Advanced Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Plant polyphenols have emerged as a highly versatile “molecular glue” for driving the formation of multifunctional hydrogels. This comprehensive review systematically explores the entire development pipeline of plant polyphenol-based hydrogels, spanning from their fundamental assembly mechanisms and biological functions to advanced manufacturing processes and biomedical applications. First, the diverse interactions dictated by specific polyphenol structures are elucidated to demonstrate how they govern macroscopic network architectures and endow the resulting materials with intrinsic bioactivity. Building on these fundamental mechanisms, one framework is introduced that maps structural features to optimized macroscopic manufacturing strategies. Furthermore, this review highlights the broad utility of these materials in advanced clinical scenarios. Finally, major clinical translation barriers such as oxidation tendencies, sterilization, and industrial standardization are critically evaluated. By bridging molecular fundamentals with macroscopic engineering and clinical challenges, this review provides practical design guidance to accelerate the future development and clinical translation of plant polyphenol-based biomaterials.