Method of making a hydrogel

A method of making a hydrogel, comprising the steps of:

• 1) providing a peptide solution, wherein the peptide comprises an amphiphilic portion;
• 2) altering a characteristic of the peptide solution, wherein the characteristic is ionic strength, pH, temperature, or ion concentration, to form an optically transparent first solution;
• 3) maintaining the solution of 2) under conditions suitable for the formation of a hydrogel;
• 4) liquefying the hydrogel of 3), preferably by mechanical agitation;
• 5) combining the liquefied hydrogel of 4) with i) cells and optionally ii) media to form a second solution and optionally determining the optical transparency of the second solution, to assess its capability of forming a hydrogel;
• and
• 6) maintaining the second solution of 5) under conditions suitable for the formation of a hydrogel comprising cells encapsulated therein.