A configurational biomimetic imprinting technique was used to prepare recognition sites for glucose in copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) prepared with crosslinking agents containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). We report on the structure, diffusive, and recognition characteristics of these gels, the effect of the type and ratio of crosslinking agent, as well as the template/comonomer ratios on glucose binding ability. The highest equilibrium glucose binding was found as 2.67 mg/g dry polymer when PEG monomethacrylate (PEGMMA) was used in combination with tetra ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) (50%) as a crosslinking agent. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 432441,2007