Glyceryl methacrylate hydrogels

Abstract Hydrophilic three‐dimensional polymer networks (hydrogels) were prepared from glyceryl methacrylate (2,3‐dihydroxypropyl methacrylate). The solubility of poly(glyceryl methacrylate) in water permits the preparation of transparent hydrogels containing variable amounts of water at the equilibrium stage. This is accomplished by varying the degree of swelling at the time of network formation, and by varying the density of crosslinks. The temperature dependence of swelling of the hydrogels in water and in 0.9% sodium chloride solution, was determined. There exists a linear relationship between the refractive index and the per cent of water in the hydrogel. These hydrogels are potentially useful in ophthalmology.