Multifunctional compounds for forming crosslinked biomaterials and methods of preparation and use

A multifunctional compound having the structure of formula (I):

• wherein:
• n is an integer from 1-12, and when n is 2-12, each Z component may be different;
• R is selected from hydrophilic polymers, hydrophobic polymers, amphiphilic polymers, C2-14 hydrocarbyls, and heteroatom-containing C2-14 hydrocarbyls;
• X, Y, and Z are reactive groups and can be the same or different, wherein the reactive groups are selected from nucleophilic groups, electrophilic groups, redox groups, oxidative coupling reactive groups, photoinitiated reactive groups, and temperature-sensitive groups;
• L1, L2, and L3 are linking groups;
• and
• p, q, and r are integers from 0-1;
• wherein each reactive group is capable of reacting with at least one other reactive group, and wherein the compound is essentially non-reactive in an initial environment but is rendered reactive upon exposure to a modification in the initial environment that provides a modified environment such that a plurality of the multifunctional compounds inter-react in the modified environment to form a three-dimensional matrix.