Roberto Baretta

1 Introduction Living systems operate far from thermodynamic equilibrium, sustaining structure and function through continuous energy consumption. Growth, adaptation, and regulation arise from antagonistic reaction networks and feedback loops that couple molecular transformations to larger-scale control processes, enabling autonomous operations [1].

1 Introduction The development of synthetic materials with life-like functionalities, capable of sensing their environment, processing information, and adapting to changing conditions, represents a transformative direction in materials science [1, 2]. Such materials are poised to revolutionize next-generation therapeutic interfaces and biomedical devices, enabling unprecedented levels of interaction, responsiveness, and autonomy [3, 4].

1 Introduction The dynamic interplay between mechanical and biochemical processes endows living systems with robustness and adaptability, enabling them to maintain structural integrity while interacting with the environment.[1, 2] For example, cells exhibit remarkable sensitivity to external mechanical stimuli, triggering a cascade of biochemical responses[3] that allow them to adapt to their surroundings through feedback regulation.