Bifunctional-modified hydrogels

1. A method of administering pharmacologically-active agents or cells to a patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering a hydrogel to a patient in need of the pharmacologically-active agent or cells, wherein the pharmacologically-active agent or living cells are entrained within the hydrogel, and the hydrogel comprises:

a first polymer matrix containing reactive amino acid moieties;

a second polymer matrix that interpenetrates with the first polymer matrix;

a bifunctional modifier comprising a compound of formula:

wherein at least one of the “A” or “Z” moieties is covalently bonded to the reactive amino moieties of the polymer matrix; and wherein “A” and “Z” are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, C 1 -C 24 -alkyl, C 1 -C 24 -alkenyl, C 1 C 24 -alkynyl, C 1 -C 24 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 24 -heteroalkyl, C 1 -C 24 -hetero alkenyl, C 1 -C 24 -heteroalkynyl, cyano-C 1 -C 24 -alkyl, C 3 -C 10 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 10 -cyclo alkenyl, C 3 -C 10 -cycloalkynyl, C 3 -C 10 cycloheteroalkyl, C 3 -C 10 -cycloheteroalkenyl, C 3 -C 10 -cycloheteroalkynyl, acyl, acyl-C 1 -C 24 -alkyl, acyl-C 1 -C 24 -alkenyl, acyl-C 1 -C 24 -alkenyl, carboxy, C 1 -C 24 -alkylcarboxy, C 1 -C 24 -alkenylcarboxy, C 1 -C 24 -alkynylcarboxy, carboxy-C 1 -C 24 -alkyl, carboxy-C 1 -C 24 -alkenyl, carboxy-C 1 -C 24 -alkynyl, aryl, aryl-C 1 -C 24 -alkyl, aryl-C 1 -C 24 -alkenyl, aryl-C 1 -C 24 -alkynyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl-C 1 -C 24 -alkyl, heteroaryl-C 1 -C 24 -alkenyl, heteroaryl-C 1 -C 24 -alkynyl, sulfonate, arylsulfonate, and heteroarylsulfonate;

“m” is an integer of from 2 to 8; and

“n” is an integer equal to or greater than 100.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a pharmacologically-active agent covalently bonded to one of the “A” or “Z” moieties that is not bonded to the first polymer matrix.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the first polymer matrix is proteinaceous.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, calcium alginate, calcium/sodium alginate, collagen, oxidized regenerated cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, amino-modified cellulose, and whey protein.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of gelatin and collagen.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix is cross-linked with a cross-linking reagent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix is cross-linked with glutaraldehyde.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix further comprises EDTAD moieties bonded to it.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein “n” is equal to or greater than 200.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein “n” is equal to or greater than 2,000.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein “n” is equal to or greater than 20,000.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmacologically active agent is selected from the group consisting of vulnerary agents, hemostatic agents, antibiotics, antithelmintics, antifungal agents, hormones, anti-inflammatory agents, proteins, polypeptides, oligonucleotides, cytokines, and enzymes.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pharmacologically active agent is a vulnerary agent.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmacologically active agent is selected from the group consisting of vulnerary agents, hemostatic agents, antibiotics, antithelmintics antifungal agents, hormones, anti-inflammatory agents, proteins, polypeptides, oligonucleotides, cytokines, and enzymes.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmacologically active agent is a vulnerary agent.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second polymer matrix comprises a photopolymerized poly(acrylate).

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second polymer matrix comprises one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of α-acrylate-ω-acrylate-poly(alkylene glycol), trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and acrylic acid.