Method of making poly(sugar acrylates) using hydrolytic enzymes

A poly(sugar acrylate) is prepared by reacting vinyl acrylate with a sugar in the presence of hydrolytic enzymes to prepare an acryloyl ester of the sugar. The acryloyl ester of the sugar is then polymerized to form the poly(sugar acrylate). Useful hydrolytic enzymes include alkaline protease, aminoacylase, fungal amylase, bacterial protease, lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia and subtilisin. Useful sugars include α- or β-alkyl- or α- or β-halo-glycosides, sucrose, fructose, mannose, trehalose, raffinose, lactose and maltose. A free radical initiator can be used in the polymerization. A copolymer can be formed by mixing the sugar ester with a monomer such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate before polymerizing. During formation of the copolymer, a cross-linking agent such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate may be present. The poly(sugar acrylates) form hydrogels which are useful in absorbent materials such as diaper liners, packaging materials and drug delivery polymers.