Abstract <p>Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels are valuable in biomedical engineering due to their tunable mechanical properties. Dehydration is crucial for hydrogel characterization and applications. Traditional methods, like freeze-drying, are costly and can damage structure. This study presents a cost-effective silica gel dehydration method that preserves 3D structure and mechanical properties of PEGDA hydrogels. Hydrogel samples with an 85:15 PEGDA to Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ratio were dehydrated using different methods and analyzed by FTIR, SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and mechanical testing. Results showed silica gel dehydration effectively preserved the structural integrity and mechanical properties of PEGDA hydrogels.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>