Hydrogels with varying crosslink densities and ionic moieties were prepared from the ternary systems N-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone/itaconic acid/water by irradiation with gamma rays at ambient temperature. The influence of external stimuli such as pH, temperature and ionic strength of the swelling media and the type of buffer on the equilibrium swelling properties were investigated. Hydrogels showed typical pH response and temperature responses, such as high-pH and low-temperature swelling and low-pH and high-temperature deswelling. A change in the ionic strength of the swelling solution from 0.01 to 0.20 caused a decrease in the equilibrium degree of swelling of hydrogels. Oscillatory swelling behaviour was also observed and investigated in response to changes in the pH of the solution.