A bioactive collagen biomaterial according to the invention that is biocompatible with cells and tissues and distinguished by containing certain cryptic and non-cryptic peptide constituents to stimulate cellular responses and further made to incorporate a variety of agents to provide a desired characteristic, such as antimicrobial properties. The bioactive collagen biomaterial can be provided as a variety of configurations and as various matrices and devices for use in medical applications such as in biotechnology, basic research, tissue engineering and in wound repair as a wound dressing or cell/tissue scaffold.
