Growth and survival of cells in biosynthetic poly vinyl alcohol–alginate IPN hydrogels for cardiac applications

Biosynthetic hydrogels of poly vinyl alcohol–calcium alginate were prepared as semi (semi-IPN hydrogel, PAH) and full interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN hydrogel, PAHG) for tissue engineering of cardiac tissue. The biological response of these hydrogels was studied. The IPN hydrogel exhibits amphiphilic nature and moderate equilibrium water content. The IPN hydrogel inherits the water as structured one along with more free water. The IPN hydrogel has adequate mechanical strength and fatigue life and stability in physiological media over the semi-IPN hydrogel. The structured water along with more free water in IPN hydrogel promotes blood compatibility, cell adhesion and proliferation and maintains three dimensional growths of L929 fibroblast and H9C2 cardiomyoblasts. IPN hydrogel maintain long term cell viability and infiltration with exchange of nutrients in the interstices of the hydrogel. The IPN hydrogel, PAHG is a promising material for engineering cardiac tissue.