Hematin, an iron-containing porphyrin used in the management of porphyria attacks, was evaluated as an alternative catalyst to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for in situ gelation of polymers with phenolic hydroxyl (Ph) moieties in vivo. An aqueous solution of gelatin derivative with Ph moieties was gellable in the presence of both hematin and H2O2. A total of 98.6% adhesion of L929 fibroblast cells 4 h after seeding and their similar morphology to those on substrate coated with unmodified gelatin indicated no obvious substrate cytotoxicity. High cytocompatibility of the gelation process under conditions inducing gelation within 20 s was demonstrated by 95.0% viability of enclosed cells in vitro. Furthermore, no adverse effects of hematin were found compared with HRP by histological observation of cutaneous tissue surrounding in situ formed gels. The versatility of hematin for gelation of a variety of polymers possessing Ph groups was demonstrated by the gelation of a carboxymethyl cellulose derivative.