SYNOPSISPoly(c-lysine) (PL) hydrogels have been prepared by means of y irradiation of P L produced by Streptomyces albulus in aqueous solutions. When the dosage of y irradiation was 70 kGy or more and the concentration of P L in water was 1-7 wt %, transparent hydrogels (opaque hydrogels for 1-3 wt % P L concentration) could be produced. In the case of 70 kGy of y irradiation and 5 wt % P L concentration, the specific water content (wt of absorbed water/wt of dry hydrogel) of the PL hydrogel was approximately 160. Specific water contents of P L hydrogels decreased markedly with an increase in the dosage of y irradiation. The specific water contents were increased with an increase in P L concentration in the irradiated solution. This result indicates the presence of a radical scavenger in the P L solution. Swelling equilibria of P L hydrogels were measured in water or in aqueous solutions of various pHs or concentrations of NaC1, Na2S04, and CaC1,. Under acid conditions, the P L hydrogel swelled due to the ionic repulsion of the protonated amino groups in the P L molecules. The degree of deswelling in electrolyte solution was smaller than that of other ionic hydrogels [poly(y-glutamic acid), poly(acry1ic acid) etc.]. In addition, the enzymatic degradations of P L hydrogel were studied a t 40°C and pH 7.0 in an aqueous solution of the neutral protease [Protease A (Arnano)] produced from Aspergillus oryzae. The rate of enzymatic degradation of the respective P L hydrogels was much faster than the rate of simple hydrolytic degradation. The rate of enzymatic degradation decreased with the increase in y-irradiation dose during preparation of the P L hydrogel. 0 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.