Friction regulation of laser textured PVA hydrogels against a titanium alloy

•Micro-grooves with designed spacings and depths are prepared by UV laser surface texturing of PVA hydrogels.•The laser textured micro-grooves enable the effect of “drainage channel” and interlocking at the hydrogel-titanium alloy friction pair interface.•A friction model of interlocking and ploughing has been proposed to explain the behavior of hydrogel micro-grooves against titanium alloy surface.•The shape, size and distribution of micro-groove array are the designable variables for regulating the friction stress in hydrogel-solid interfacing applications.