Photoactive antimicrobial hydrogels were produced by incorporating benzophenone (BP) into glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Structural and functional properties of the BP incorporated PVA/GA (BP:PVA/GA) hydrogels were investigated by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and antimicrobial tests. The durability of the functions was also examined by UV-Vis spectroscopy, HPLC, MS, and antimicrobial tests. The concentrations of BP and GA in the BP:PVA/GA hydrogels affected the formation of the hydrogels as well as their structures. All BP:PVA/GA hydrogels showed antimicrobial abilities under UVA (365 nm) irradiation, and the effectiveness increased as the amounts of BP in the hydrogels increased. In particular, as-prepared BP:PVA/GA hydrogels exhibited prominent durability in the photo-induced antimicrobial ability. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1780-1787, 2010. (C) 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers