Functionalised supports with sugar dendritic ligand were obtained from chemical modification on poly(hydroxylated polybutadienic-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(PB-HEMA)] matrix. The matrix was activated with 1,4 butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDGE) or epichlorohydrin (ECH). Later, a dendritic molecule was immobilised and submitted to react with glucose (GLU) using a carbodiimide reagent. Then, glucose-containing supports were used as sorbents to retain Concanavalin A (Con A). Properties such as equilibrium volume swelling ratios (qv), extent of conversion of functional groups, amount of bound dendritic molecule and amount of coupled glucose were analysed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.