Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial carrying compounds with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docketing of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin). Hydrogel matrices as the biomaterial promote cell attachment to the matrix and cell migration into the matrix.