Myocardial　infarction　(MI)　is　the　leading　cause　of　cardiovascular　disease-related　deaths.　Local　ischemia　and　cardiomyocyte　death　lead　to　a　series　of　pathological　remodeling　events　of　the　infarcted　extracellular　matrix　(ECM)　that　are　significantly　different　from　normal　cardiac　tissues.　These　pathological　characteristics　have　inspired　the　development　of　microenvironment-responsive　therapeutic　strategies　for　MI.　Bioactive　hydrogels　attract　great　attention　because　of　their　unique　physicochemical　features　to　induce　specific　biological　responses　upon　interacting　with　cells,　ECMs,　and　signal　molecules.　They　exhibit　physicochemical-responsive　activities　to　regulate　interactions　between　hydrogels　and　the　biological　system.　Many　bioactive　hydrogels　with　intelligent　properties　have　been　used　to　repair　infarcted　myocardium　and　restore　the　cardiac　function　after　MI.　Current　research　studies　ensure　that　bioactive　hydrogels　have　a　high　clinical　importance　and　application　prospects.　This　review　summarizes　the　advances　of　bioactive　hydrogels　in　the　field　of　on-demand　treatment　of　MI　and　evaluates　their　key　physicochemical　characteristics.　A　range　of　bioactive　hydrogels　and　their　biomedical　applications　are　discussed　in　repairing　injured　hearts　and　restoring　cardiac　functions,　providing　insights　into　the　development　of　intelligent　therapeutic　approaches　for　MI.　©　2022　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.