Provided herein are methods of making a biomimetic hydrogel scaffold comprising a polycation and a polyanion. Also provided are anisotropic biomimetic hydrogel scaffold compositions suitable for use in tissue growth, including bone, muscle, and nerve growth an optionally comprising a carbon allotrope such as graphene. Also provided are methods of producing tissue comprising growing tissue on the biomimetic hydrogel scaffold comprising a polycation and a polyanion.