The use of a fatty acid/β-Hydroxyester blend to enhance the surface hydrophilicity of crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) coatings

•An amphipilic β-hydroxyester (β-HE) was synthesized and characterized.•A stearic acid/β-HE blend was used to modify a dimethacrylate-based resin.•Crosslinked coatings were obtained by visible-light photopolymerization.•A phase separation process took place in the modified systems.•A marked increase in the surface hydrophilicity of the coatings was attained.