Alginate based hybrid copolymer hydrogels—Influence of pore morphology on cell–material interaction

•Alginate based hybrid copolymer hydrogels with unidirectional pore morphology.•Hydrogel comprises alginate–poly(propylene fumarate) copolymer crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate–acrylic acid.•Hybrid hydrogel favours fibroblast infiltration and collagen synthesis for longer duration and promotes cardiomyoblast growth on to their interstices.•Favourable synergistic biological performance for cardiac tissue engineering applications. Alginate based hybrid copolymer hydrogels with unidirectional pore morphology were prepared to achieve synergistic biological performance for cardiac tissue engineering applications. Alginate based hybrid copolymer (ALGP) were prepared using alginate and poly(propylene fumarate) (HT-PPF) units. Different hybrid bimodal hydrogels were prepared by covalent crosslinking using poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) and vinyl monomer viz acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate and N-N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide and ionic crosslinking with calcium. The morphologically modified hydrogels (MM-hydrogels) with unidirectional elongated pores and high aspect ratio were prepared. MM-hydrogels favour better mechanical properties; it also enhances cell viability and infiltration due to unidirectional pores. However, the crosslinkers influence the fibroblast infiltration of these hydrogels. Synthesis of collagen and fibroblast infiltration was greater for alginate copolymer crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate–acrylic acid (ALGP–PA) even after one month (288%). This hybrid MM-hydrogel promoted cardiomyoblast growth on to their interstices signifying its potent applications in cardiac tissue engineering.