Hydrogels find application in many areas of technology and research due to their ability to combine responsiveness and robustness. A detailed understanding of their molecular structure and dynamics (which ultimately underpin their functional properties) is needed for their design to be optimized and these hydrogels to be exploited effectively. In this review, we shed light on the unique capabilities of solid-state NMR spectroscopy to reveal this information in molecular detail. We review recent literature on the advancements in solid-state NMR techniques in resolving the structure, degree of grafting, molecular organization, water-biopolymer interactions and internal dynamical behavior of hydrogels. Among various solid-state NMR techniques, 13C cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR is examined for its ability to probe the hydrogel and its trapped solvent. Although widely applicable to many types of polymeric and supramolecular hydrogels, the current review focuses on polysaccharide-based hydrogels.

Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) is a powerful and attractive characterization method for obtaining insights into the chemical structure and dynamics of a wide range of materials. Current interest in cellulose-based materials, as sustainable and renewable natural polymer products, requires deep investigation and analysis of the chemical structure, molecular packing, end chain motion, functional modification, and solvent–matrix interactions, which strongly dictate the final product properties and tailor their end applications. In comparison to other spectroscopic techniques, on an atomic level, ssNMR is considered more advanced, especially in the structural analysis of cellulose-based materials; however, due to a dearth in the availability of a broad range of pulse sequences, and time consuming experiments, its capabilities are underestimated. This critical review article presents the comprehensive and up-to-date work done using ssNMR, including the most advanced NMR strategies used to overcome and resolve the structural difficulties present in different types of cellulose-based materials.

3D printing, particularly bioprinting, has emerged as a transformative technology in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, enabling the precise layer‐by‐layer fabrication of living tissues and complex biomaterials. Bioprinting has evolved through advances in printing methods such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), powder bed fusion (PBF), and jetting techniques, each offering distinct advantages for producing high‐resolution, functional constructs. Central to bioprinting is the development of bioinks, primarily composed of natural and synthetic polymers and microbial polysaccharides, which must balance biocompatibility, mechanical integrity, and printability to support viable cell encapsulation and tissue formation. Despite remarkable progress, challenges persist, including optimizing bioink viscosity, cell viability, scaffold structural and functional complexities (vascularization, in vivo functionality), degradation rates, and scalability, as well as addressing regulatory and ethical concerns. Recent innovations, such as cryogenic printing, offer promising solutions by preserving cell viability and enhancing structural fidelity under ultra‐low temperatures. While 3D printing holds immense potential to revolutionize personalized medicine, organ fabrication, and sustainable manufacturing, current technological, biological, and economic constraints temper expectations. Continued interdisciplinary research, material innovation, and refinement of printing technologies are essential to translate 3D bioprinting from experimental platforms to clinical and commercial realities, fulfilling its promise as a cornerstone of next‐generation regenerative therapies and advanced manufacturing.

Solid-state NMR is a nondestructive and noninvasive technique used to study the chemical structure and dynamics of starch-based materials and to bridge the gap between structure–function relationships and industrial applications. The study of crystallinity, chemical modification, product blending, molecular packing, amylose–amylopectin ratio, end chain motion, and solvent–matrix interactions is essential for tailoring starch product properties to various applications. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and critical review of research characterizing starch-based materials using solid-state NMR, and to briefly introduce the most advanced and promising NMR strategies and hardware designs used to overcome the sensitivity and resolution issues involved in structure–function relationships.

Three zeolites (H‐Beta, H‐ZSM‐5 and H‐Y) were synthesized in the form of binder‐free macroscopic beads (d=215–840 μm) using a hydrothermal method employing anion‐exchange resin beads as hard template. The beads obtained after removal of the hard template by calcination consisted of crystalline zeolite domains connected with each other to form a hierarchical porous network in which the zeolitic micropores are accessible through meso‐ and macropores, as proven by characterization with XRD, N₂ physisorption, SEM, and TEM. The composition, the nature and amount of acid sites and the degree of hydrophobicity of these beads were investigated by means of XRF, solid‐state NMR, pyridine‐FTIR and TGA. The zeolite beads were tested as heterogeneous catalysts in the Friedel‐Crafts acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride to produce para‐methoxyacetophenone. H‐Beta‐Beads displayed the best catalytic performance with 95 % conversion of acetic anhydride and 76 % yield of para‐methoxyacetophenone in a batch reactor test (90 °C, 6 h). Next, the catalytic performance of H‐Beta‐Beads was compared in both batch and continuous‐flow mode to extrudates prepared by mixing zeolite Beta powder with either kaolin or bentonite binders. H‐Beta‐Beads outperformed the extrudates in batch‐mode reactions and could be reused in multiple runs without discernible loss of activity. In the continuous‐flow test, H‐Beta‐Beads demonstrated higher average activity but deactivated more rapidly than the extrudates.