Among several important considerations for implantation of a biomaterial, a main concern is the introduction of infection. Biomaterial-centered infections are common, accounting for about 45% of all nosocomial infections. We have designed a hydrogel scaffold from the self-assembling peptide, MAX1, for tissue regeneration applications whose surface exhibits inherent antibacterial activity. In experiments where MAX1 gels are challenged with bacterial solutions ranging in concentrations from 2 x 10³ colony forming units (CFU)/dm² to 2 x 10⁹ CFU/dm², gel surfaces exhibit broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Results show that the hydrogel surface is active against gram positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) and gram negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli) bacteria, all prevalent in hospital settings. Live-dead assays employing laser scanning confocal microscopy show that bacteria are killed when they engage the surface. In addition, the surface of MAX1 hydrogels were shown to cause inner and outer membrane disruption in experiments that monitor the release of β-galactosidase from the cytoplasm of lactose permease-deficient Escherichia coli ML-35. These results suggest a mechanism of antibacterial action that involves membrane disruption. Co-culture experiments indicate the hydrogel surfaces show selective toxicity to bacterial versus mammalian cells. Gel surfaces are non-hemolytic towards human erythrocytes and maintain healthy morphologies when in contact with the surface. Preliminary in vitro studies employing J774 macrophages suggest that MAX1 hydrogels may not provoke an inflammatory immune response after implantation into a host. These material attributes make MAX1 gels attractive candidates for use in tissue regeneration, even in non-sterile environments.