Designer collagens and use thereof

A hybrid collagen matrix comprising:

• an acellular derived mammalian matrix;
• and
• an isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein in contact with the acellular derived mammalian matrix to form an acellular-collagen hybrid matrix, wherein the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein comprises one or more alterations in a triple helical backbone protein sequence that stabilize the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein and does not disrupt collagen ligand interactions and one or more integrin binding motifs, wherein said one or more alterations results in no hydroxyprolines and substitution of charged residues, wherein the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein facilitates tissue regeneration through cell infiltration and wherein the protein comprises a collagen-like repeat GXXGX1Y1GX2Y2GXX (SEQ ID NO:
• 13), wherein X is any amino acid,
• X1 is R and Y1 is P and X2 is E, Y2 is K, or N or
• X1 is F and Y1 is P and X2 is E, Y2 is K, or N or
• X1 is R and Y1 is P and X2 is E, Y2 is R, K, or N;
• and
• one or more integrin binding motifs, wherein the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein facilitates wound closure, and wherein the synthetic collagen is non-cytotoxic.

A hybrid collagen hydrogel matrix comprising:

• a polymer matrix;
• and
• an isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein linked to the polymer matrix to form a hybrid collagen hydrogel matrix, wherein the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein comprises one or more integrin binding motifs and one or more alterations in a triple helical backbone protein sequence, wherein the one or more alterations in a triple helical backbone protein sequence stabilize the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein and does not disrupt collagen ligand interactions, wherein said one or more alterations results in no hydroxyprolines and substitution of charged residues, wherein the protein comprises a collagen-like repeat GXXGX1PGEY2GXX (SEQ ID NO:
• 13), wherein X is any amino acid,
• X1 is R and Y2 is K, or N or
• X1 is F and Y2 is K, or N or
• X1 is R and Y2 is R;
• and
• one or more integrin binding motifs, wherein the isolated and purified triple helical backbone protein facilitates wound closure, and wherein the synthetic collagen is non-cytotoxic.