TOPOLOGICAL ADHESION OF MATERIALS

1 . A composite material comprising:

a first material comprising a first polymeric network;

a second material comprising a second polymeric network; and

an adhesion polymeric network comprising a plurality of adhesion polymer chains joined together by a bonding force and interwoven with the first and second polymeric networks to adhere the first and second materials together,

wherein the adhesion polymeric network is not covalently bonded to the first or second polymeric network.

2 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second polymeric network is cross-linked.

3 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second material is a dry material or a wet material comprising a solvent.

4 . The composite material of claim 3 , wherein the solvent is water.

5 . The composite material of claim 3 , wherein the solvent is an organic solvent.

6 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second materials is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogel, a tissue, and an elastomer.

7 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the first and second polymeric networks each independently comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA), poly(acrylamide) (PAAM), poly(dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA), [2-(Acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (PDMAEA), polyacrylamide, alginate, and a combination thereof.

8 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the adhesion polymer chains comprise one or more bio-compatible polymers.

9 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein each of the adhesion polymer chains is independently selected from the group consisting of poly(4-aminestyrene), chitosan, alginate, cellulose, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), polymers containing silane groups and/or catechol groups, a copolymer thereof, a terpolymer thereof, and a block copolymer thereof.

10 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the bonding force results from a bond or interaction selected from the group consisting of hydrogen bond, ionic bond, van der Waals interaction, covalent bond, π-π stacking, cation-π-π interaction, host-guest interaction, and a combination thereof.

11 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the bonding force results from a bond or interaction which is permanent, transient, or reversible.

12 . The composite material of claim 11 , wherein the bond or interaction is reversible.

13 . The composite material of claim 12 , wherein the bond is a hydrogen bond, a covalent bond or an ionic bond.

14 . The composite material of claim 13 , wherein each of the adhesion polymer chains is independently selected from the group consisting of poly(4-aminestyrene), chitosan, alginate, cellulose, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), polymers containing silane groups and/or catechol groups a copolymer thereof, a terpolymer thereof, and a block copolymer thereof.

15 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the bonding force results from a bond or interaction which is formed in response to a stimulus.

16 . The composite material of claim 15 , wherein the stimulus is selected from the group consisting of pH, salt, temperature, light, and a combination thereof.

17 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the first and second materials are adhered with an adhesion energy of more than about 10, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, 600, or 1000 Jm −2 .

18 - 59 . (canceled)