Method of preparing collagen-polymer conjugates

A method for preparing a collagen-polymer conjugate suitable for administering to mammals, which method comprises:

• providing an aqueous mixture of collagen molecules, said mixture having a concentration of about 3 to about 100 mg/mL collagen;
• providing a solution of synthetic hydrophilic polymer molecules, wherein
• each polymer molecule has at least two reactive groups capable of forming a covalent bond with an available lysine chain present in said collagen molecules;
• and
• mixing said aqueous mixture of collagen molecules with said solution of synthetic hydrophilic polymer molecules to yield a reaction mixture having a hydrophilic polymer concentration of about 0.1% to about 50% by weight, thereby forming covalent bonds between said collagen molecules and said hydrophilic polymer molecules, said covalent bonds effecting crosslinking of said collagen molecules.