Polyurethanes　(PUs)　are　well-known　for　their　biocompatibility　but　their　intrinsic　inert　property　hampers　cell-matrix　interactions.　Surface　modifications　are　thus　necessary　to　widen　their　use　for　biomedical　applications.　In　this　work,　surface　modifications　of　PU　were　achieved　first　by　incorporating　polyhedral　oligomeric　silsesquioxane　(POSS),　followed　by　alteration　of　the　surface　topography　via　the　breath　figures　method.　Subsequently,　surface　chemistry　was　also　modified　by　immobilization　of　gelatin　molecules　through　grafting,　for　the　enhancement　of　the　surface　cytocompatibility.　Scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　was　used　to　verify　the　formation　of　highly　ordered　microstructures　while　static　contact　angle,　FTIR　and　XPS　confirmed　the　successful　grafting　of　gelatin　molecules　onto　the　surfaces.　In　vitro　culture　of　human　umbilical　vein　endothelial　cells　(HUVECs)　revealed　that　endothelial　cell　adhesion　and　proliferation　were　significantly　enhanced　on　the　gelatin-modified　surfaces,　as　shown　by　live/dead　staining　and　WST-1　proliferation　assay.　The　results　indicated　that　the　combination　of　the　strategies　yielded　an　interface　that　improves　cell　attachment　and　subsequent　growth.　This　enhancement　is　important　for　the　development　of　higher　quality　biomedical　implants　such　as　vascular　grafts.　©　2013　Science　China　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.