Although polymer 13 takes up a mass of water similar to that taken up by TENTA-GEL and ARGO-GEL ( data not shown), replacement of the DVB cross-linker in polymer 13 with α,ω-bis-styryl-pentaethylene glycol 4 gives polymer 15 and results in a polymer with a dramatically increased mass-water uptake that is far greater than those of both commercial resins.