Peptide-based hydrogel for enhanced bone repair

Peptide-based hydrogels are widely studied and applied in bone repair because of their good biocompatibility, biodegradability and designability. Peptide-based hydrogels can be endowed with different properties by introducing biologically functional groups into the peptide chain and adjusting the composition of the peptide-based hydrogels. In addition, in combination with growth factors, cells, and other scaffold materials, the peptide-based hydrogels can meet the needs of bone repair under different conditions. Therefore, we first analyzed the expected properties of peptide-based hydrogels in bone repair and methods to obtain these properties. Then, we focused on the applications in bone repair, especially the repair scheme based on peptide-based hydrogels for different types of bone defects. Peptide-based hydrogels can be used alone to fill bone defects, playing a role in bone conduction. The peptide-based hydrogels can also be used as a sustained-release carrier for cells, drugs, and the like, to improve the microenvironment of local bone regeneration and enhance the bone regeneration capacity. In addition, peptide-based hydrogels can provide solutions for repairing large segmental and weight-bearing bone defects by incorporating other scaffold materials. This review will provide the theoretical basis and cutting-edge design strategies for peptide-based hydrogels to promote the repair of bone defects.