Patent ID: 8303973

Claim:
A multifunctional compound having the structure of formula (I): wherein: n is an integer from 1-12, and when n is 2-12, each Z component may be different; R is selected from hydrophilic polymers, hydrophobic polymers, amphiphilic polymers, C 2-14 hydrocarbyls, and heteroatom-containing C 2-14 hydrocarbyls; X is a nucleophilic group, Y is an electrophilic group, and Z is an electrophilic or a nucleophilic group; L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 are linking groups; and p, q, and r are integers from 0-1; wherein the compound is essentially non-reactive in an initial environment but is rendered reactive upon exposure to a modification in the initial environment that provides a modified environment such that a plurality of the multifunctional compounds inter-react in the modified environment to form a three-dimensional matrix.