Surface patterning and biological evaluation of semi-interpenetrated poly(HEMA)/poly(alkylβ-malolactonate)s

Abstract Semi‐interpenetrating hydrogel networks were prepared by radical polimerization of monomer HEMA, co‐monomer EGDMA as cross‐linking agent and in the presence of 1 wt % of poly(alkyl β‐malolactonate)s. Biological evaluation in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation of the prepared materials showed the ability of HEMA‐based hydrogels to sustain a good cell adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, a method based on soft‐lithography to obtained surface microstructured semi‐interpenetrating hydrogel networks was developed, thus allowing for further investigation of the influence of surface topography on cell behavior.