Methods for synthesizing a methacrylate-derivatized type-I collagen in which methacrylic acid is reacted with a carboxylic acid activating reagent in the presence of a carbodiimide to form a methacrylic acid with an activated carboxylic acid group, which is then reacted with free amino groups on type-I collagen to form a collagen methacrylamide. Methacrylate-derivatized collagen, cross-linked collagens formed therefrom and products containing the cross-linked collagen are also disclosed.
