Abstract: Interpenetrating network hydrogels are described that may be incorporated into wound dressings and/or in implants. The properties of the interpenetrating network hydrogel may be tuned to control an amount of moisture in a wound environment. The devices, methods, and kits described herein may be adapted to treat a variety of wound types at a variety of healing stages over a range of time scales. Some hydrogels may be configured to deliver one or more vulnerary agents to a wound. The interpenetrating network hydrogels may also be adapted to control a rate and/or amount of moisture uptake so that the hydrogels may be used as expandable implants to expand tissue.

Abstract: A bio-mimetic or bio-implantable material based on a sequential process of coupling biomolecule layers to a polymer layer is provided. In general, the material could be based on two or more biomolecule layers starting with one of the layers covalently linked to the polymer layer via cross-linkers and the other layers sequentially and covalently linked using cross-linkers to the previously added layer. The polymer layer could be a hydrogel or an interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel. The first layer of biomolecules could be a collagen type, fibronectin, laminin, extracellular matrix protein, or any combinations thereof. The second layer of biomolecules typically is a growth factor, protein or stimulant. The cross-linkers are either water soluble or insoluble bifunctional cross-linkers or azide-active-ester crosslinkers. The material and process as taught in this invention are useful in the field of tissue engineering and wound healing.