Peptide hydrogels are formed through non-covalent interactions between peptides, which self-assemble to form a polymer network. Similar to the extracellular matrix, these hydrogels maintain a three-dimensional structure and allow liquid molecules to flow. Due to the rich biological functionalities of peptides and the reversible responsiveness of physical hydrogels to their environment, peptide hydrogels have been widely applied in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and 3D cell culture in biomaterials and biomedicine.

While peptide hydrogels have significant potential, their current structures and functions are too limited to meet complex medical needs, such as repairing tissue organs or creating high mechanical-performance tissue materials. A more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of peptide self-assembly and the possibility of extending biological functionality is necessary to expand their application prospects.

This Methods Collection aims to highlight diverse methods for developing peptide hydrogels for applications in biomaterials and therapeutic drugs. Moreover, models to study the mechanism of peptide self-assembly and the combination of biological functionalities, which can be applied in developing biomaterials and drugs will also be covered in this collection. This Methods Collection will provide a resource library for peptide self-assembling hydrogels and biomaterials, allowing for a deeper exploration of their mechanisms and a richer collection platform for various methods.