Imagine an adhesive that can not only withstand water, salt water or extreme pressure, but can also be used where conventional hot melt or chemical adhesives fail. There has been a lot of talk about something like this lately. Hydrogel is the glue of the future. It is a water-soaked polymer gel that is designed so that its bonding capabilities are not lost even under extreme conditions. Research shows that modern hydrogels can actually work underwater and in environments with excessive pressure.

Why are hydrogels so special? How exactly do scientists design them to work even in extreme conditions? And where might they find a use in the near future?

Hydrogel as a highly resistant adhesive

Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks of water-filled polymer chains. They behave like soft substances but can exhibit surprisingly high mechanical resistance, explain the experts. It is the combination of their soft structure and high water absorption that gives rise to their adhesive properties, such as the ability to adhere to wet surfaces or adapt to uneven surfaces.

In addition, modern research shows that with machine learning and data-driven design, the adhesive strength of the hydrogel can be increased very significantly. This could make hydrogels effective in the future in deep water, where even for many diving systems the pressure is high, but also in other locations that are heavily mechanically stressed.

How scientists design hydrogels for extremes

Designing hydrogels for extreme conditions involves several key principles.

  • The first is biomimetics. These are mechanisms that make it possible for materials to adhere even underwater or in wet conditions.
  • The second principle is the construction of a double (or multiple) network structure of polymers. This means that the adhesive is made up of networks, for example, one of which is harder for mechanical resistance, the other softer for energy absorption and adhesion.
  • The third key is the combination of chemical bonds and physical interactions. These are complex scientific processes that allow the adhesive to adhere to the surface even under challenging conditions.
Hydrogels have surprisingly strong resistance. As a result, they are sometimes referred to as the superglue of the future. ━━ Hydrogels have surprisingly strong resistance. As a result, they are sometimes referred to as the superglue of the future. ( Source: Gilmanshin / Shutterstock )

Where will we apply superglue in the future?

In biomedicine, hydrogels are already used as tissue adhesives or as plugs in surgical procedures because they can adhere to wet tissue. For example, a 2023 review reports that hydrogels were developed as adhesives for wound closure in the gastrointestinal tract, where acidic and wet conditions are extreme.

Hydrogels are also used in underwater bonding, hull repair, and installation of underwater equipment or structures where conventional adhesives cannot withstand the moisture, pressure, or salinity of water. A 2025 Chemistry World study even literally states that new waterproof hydrogels are so sticky that they can glue a rubber duck to a sea stone.

However, the gels still need to be further studied and improved, because in such extreme conditions it is very important to be 100% sure of their reliability.