Polymeric biomaterials with degradation sites for proteases involved in cell migration

A new class of biodegradable polymeric biomaterials is described which exhibits degradation by specific enzymes that are localized near cell surfaces during cell migration. These materials are telechelic BAB block copolymers of the water-soluble biocompatible polymer, polyethylene glycol (A block) and short oligopeptide that are cleavage sequences for targeted enzymes (B block). These polymers are further capped at each end with reactive acrylate groups to allow polymerization to form crosslinked hydrogel networks. The combination of two types of bioactive signals, one for cell-mediated degradation, and one for cell adhesion, into one material should achieve a biomemitic polymeric hydrogel with properties of natural extracellular matrix.