Cell‐Responsive Synthetic Hydrogels

Abstract

Synthetic biomaterial matrices have been formed in the presence of cells by a Michael‐type addition reaction between a difunctional protease substrate peptide, a monofunctional cell adhesion peptide, and a tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol). These materials locally degrade in response to cell‐surface proteases, allowing cells to create paths for 3D cell migration (see Figure).