HYDROPHILICITY: Hydrophilicity in relation to hydrogel polymers refers to the property of these materials to interact favorably with water, enabling them to absorb and retain substantial amounts of water or biological fluids. This characteristic is primarily due to the presence of hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amide groups, within the polymer structure. Hydrogels, therefore, swell and form a three-dimensional network when in contact with water, without dissolving. This water retention capability imparts unique properties to hydrogels, making them highly valuable in applications such as wound dressings, contact lenses, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering, where maintaining a moist environment or controlled release of substances is crucial (Peppas et al., 2000)..