An antithrombotic hydrogel with thrombin-responsive fibrinolytic activity: breaking down the clot as it forms

A novel concept of a thrombolytic material whose activity is triggered by the generation of a clot/thrombus is developed. The concept is realized using a tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)-loaded hydrogel crosslinked by a thrombin-cleavable peptide. The hydrogel is shown to release t-PA in serum and dissolve fibrin clots only when thrombin (generated during clot formation) is present.