Peptide- and protein-based hydrogels are an important class of biomaterials and have received intense research interest in recent decades. The gelation occurs either through the supramolecular assembly or the controlled reaction between reactive residues. The synergy between physical and chemical crosslinking often leads to dramatic improvement of the performance of these hydrogel materials. The unique biological role of peptides and proteins

their structural diversity and functional plasticity have promised numerous opportunities for biomaterials. This review is a brief introduction to the design principles

a summary of the recent progresses

and a perspective on its future direction.