Rigid, self-assembled hydrogel composed of a modified aromatic dipeptide

A simple dipeptide self-assembles into a biocompatible hydrogel (see figure and inside cover). This novel biomaterial is extremely simple to prepare and has a remarkable rigidity. It is very stable under extreme conditions, can be injected, and can be shaped according to the vessel it has been assembled in. The hydrogel allows a wide variety of possible biomedical applications including tissue engineering, axonal regeneration, and controlled drug release.