In Vitro and In Vivo Enzymatic Formation of Supramolecular Hydrogels Based on Self-Assembled Nanofibers of a β-Amino Acid Derivative

A precursor of a β‐peptide derivative transforms into a hydrogelator and forms supramolecular hydrogels upon phosphatase‐catalyzed dephosphorylation. This new strategy works in vitro and in vivo (see image). The enzymatic hydrogelation in vivo indicates that the β‐peptide‐based hydrogel exhibits a longer lifetime than that of α‐peptide hydrogel in a subcutaneous environment. Such an excellent in vivo stability renders the β‐peptide‐based hydrogel as a potential candidate for biomedical applications.