Hydrogel platforms for engineered live biotherapeutics: materials, microbial integration and clinical potential

Abstract

Engineered living materials (ELMs), which integrate live microorganisms into biocompatible matrices, are emerging as powerful platforms for therapeutic applications. Among these, hydrogels encapsulating engineered live biotherapeutic products (eLBPs) offer enhanced microbial stability, targeted delivery, and functional versatility for treating human disease. By protecting microbes from environmental stress and immune clearance while supporting nutrient diffusion and activity, hydrogel systems address key challenges in microbial therapeutic delivery. This review highlights recent advances in hydrogel-based delivery of eLBPs, focusing on material design, microbial engineering, and performance metrics critical for clinical translation. We provide a framework for designing next-generation living materials for human health, emphasizing opportunities and challenges in bringing these systems from bench to bedside.