To match the growing need for biodegradable, biocompatible and biobased materials, this thesis explored the possibilities of the synthesis of bio-based (photo)polymerizable materials from sugars and sugar alcohols and the preparation of hydrogels from the obtained materials.

The (photo)polymerizable monomers were synthesized via two different routes: oxirane ring opening reactions or esterification reactions. Xylitol was chosen as the carbohydrate and it was reacted with excess methacrylate agent (glycidyl methacrylate, methacrylic anhydride, methacryloyl chloride or methyl methacrylate) to yield a water-soluble monomer product with, on average, more than one double bond per hydroxyl group. The double bonds were expected to be statistically distributed between the hydroxyl groups. The monomers were characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR).

The hydrogels were prepared by dissolving obtained monomers and initiator (redox or photo) in water. The multifunctional monomers functioned as cross-linkers in the polymerization process. Rheological measurements and swelling measurements were utilized for the characterization of the hydrogels.

The obtained gel materials had promising mechanical properties and could absorb up to 10,000 % water compared to their own weight. According to the results, a new approach to sugar derivatization has been discovered. Some possible applications of the materials prepared with this approach are thickening agents in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, printable cell culture materials, injectable drug release materials and biodegradable absorbents.