Materials and methods for improving the biological properties and electromechanical performance of collagen scaffolds used for cell transplantation, including the fixation of biocompatible reagents and adhesion molecules which control cell adhesion, apoptosis, survival and/or differentiation simultaneously. The grafting of adhesion molecules to collagen matrices renders same suitable for use in vascular and cardiothoracic surgery/medicine, as well as in cell therapy for the heart and in artificial heart muscle engineering. Also, a simple method for grafting and optimising the presentation of adhesion peptides or biological agents when the scaffold is made from collagen and/or contains accessible thiol, amine or carboxyl groups.
