Scaffolds of Hyaluronic Acid-Poly(Ethyl Acrylate) Interpenetrating Networks: Characterization and In Vitro Studies

Hyaluronic acid (HA) provides many advantages to regenerative implants through its bioactive properties, but it also has many limitations as a biomaterial if it is not chemically modified. In order to overcome some of these limitations, HA has been combined with poly(ethyl acrylate) in the form of interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs), in which the HA network is crosslinked with divinyl sulfone. Scaffolds of this IPN have been produced through a template‐leaching methodology, and their properties have been compared with those of single‐network scaffolds made of either PEA or crosslinked HA. A fibroblast cell line has been used to assess the in vitro performance of the scaffolds, revealing good cell response and a differentiated behavior on the IPN surface when compared to the individual polymers. Altogether, the results confirm that this type of material offers an interesting microenvironment for cells, which can be further improved toward its potential use in medical implants. Interpenetrating networks of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) are prepared in the shape of porous scaffolds through a template‐leaching technique; combining properties of these two materials. Both physicochemical and biological responses of these interpenetrating polymeric network scaffolds are studied, including their cytotoxicity and their effects in cell proliferation and attachment; comparing them to those of HA and PEA porous single‐network scaffolds.