A biodegradable hydrogel was fabricated by chemically crosslinking PEGDE on CMC chains. The molar feed ratio of PEGDE to CMC in the preparation of the hydrogel strongly influenced the crosslinking degree of the obtained hydrogels. Water absorbency of the hydrogel depended on the crosslinking degree: lower crosslinking degrees could not retain water molecules inside the gel, whereas a higher degree of crosslinking suppressed the expansion of the gel structure.