Bifunctional-modified hydrogels

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, C1-C24-alkyl, C1-C24-alkenyl, C1C24-alkynyl, C1-C24-alkoxy, C1-C24-heteroalkyl, C1-C 24-hetero alkenyl, C1-C24-heteroalkynyl, cyano-C1-C24-alkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, C3-C10-cyclo alkenyl, C3-C10-cycloalkynyl, C3-C10cycloheteroalkyl, C3-C10-cycloheteroalkenyl, C3-C10-cycloheteroalkynyl, acyl, acyl-C1-C24-alkyl, acyl-C1-C24-alkenyl, acyl-C1-C24-alkenyl, carboxy, C1-C24-alkylcarboxy, C1-C24-alkenylcarboxy, C1-C24-alkynylcarboxy, carboxy-C1-C24-alkyl, carboxy-C1-C24-alkenyl, carboxy-C1-C24-alkynyl, aryl, aryl-C1-C24-alkyl, aryl-C1-C24-alkenyl, aryl-C1-C24-alkynyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl-C1-C24-alkyl, heteroaryl-C1-C24-alkenyl, heteroaryl-C1-C24-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.