The invention concerns compositions comprising: (i) biocompatible hydrogel, comprising a plurality of cross-linkers connecting backbone components of the hydrogel wherein the hydrogel is cross-linked utilizing a cross-linker comprising a peptide sequence that is capable of being degraded by a matrix metalloproteinase said inhibitor being effective as a treatment of a condition related to the presence of the matrix metalloproteinase wherein the hydrogel encapsulates and retains the inhibitor within the intact hydrogel through non-covalent interactions wherein the hydrogel comprises one or more of hyaluronic acid, sulfated hyaluronic acid, sulfonated hyaluronic acid, dextran, dextran sulfate, sulfonated dextran, chondroitin sulfate, heparin and heparan sulfate (ii) pentosan polysulfate (PPS) and (iii) optionally, a therapeutic agent comprising an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase.
