A collagen-based therapeutic delivery device includes an insoluble synthetic collagen-fibril matrix comprising a polymerization product of soluble oligomeric collagen or a polymerization product of a mixture of soluble oligomeric collagen with one or more type of non-oligomeric soluble collagen molecules, such as, for example, soluble telocollagen and/or soluble atelocollagen, and an active agent dispersed throughout the collagen-fibril matrix or within a portion of the collagen-fibril matrix. A pre-matrix composition includes an aqueous solution including soluble collagen-fibril building blocks and an active agent in the aqueous solution. The soluble collagen-fibril building blocks include soluble oligomeric collagen or a mixture of soluble oligomeric collagen with non-oligomeric soluble collagen molecules. The building blocks are operable to self-assemble into a macromolecular synthetic collagen-fibril matrix in the absence of an exogenous cross-linking agent. Methods of making and using the pre-matrix composition and the device are also provided.
