The invention provides a method for forming a multi-polymer hydrogel article by (a) forming a hydrogel structure using a first polymeric, water-swellable material, (b) creating an aerogel structure having a plurality of open pores by dehydrating the hydrogel structure, (c) contacting the aerogel structure with a second polymeric material to incorporate the second polymeric material into at least a portion of the plurality of open pores to form the multi-polymer hydrogel article, and (d) rehydrating the multi-polymer hydrogel article. The method provides articles having a first polymeric, water-swellable material and a second polymeric material, organized such that a first region substantially comprises the first polymeric water-swellable material, a second region adjacent the first region comprises a mixture of the first polymeric, water-swellable material and the second polymeric material and the third region adjacent the second region substantially comprises the second polymeric material The article exhibits an increasing concentration gradient of the second polymeric material moving from the first region, through the second region, to the third region.
