Several new γ-alkoxy-β-hydroxypropyl acrylates have been synthesized and polymerized.Both poly(MHPA) and poly(MHPMA) hydrogels possess equilibrium water content values nearly 7 and 3 times higher than that of the poly(HEMA) hydrogel.These rather high equilibrium water content values may be attributed to the presence of the hydrophilic γ-methoxy-β-hydroxypropyl side group on the acrylic backbone.