High water sorption of 2-vinyl pyridine (2-VP)/acrylic acid (AAc) hydrogel were prepared by free-radical polymerization in aqueous solution of 2-VP with AAc as comonomer. The amount of ionic monomer (AAc), the irradiation dose of prepared hydrogel, the pH, and the concentration of drug play an important factor on loading, adsorption, and releasing of water-soluble chloroamphenicol drug. As a result of dynamic swilling tests, the effect of relative content of AAc on the swelling showed that it allowed a non-Fickian type of water diffusion. The adsorption of the drug Onto (2-VP/AAc) hydrogels Was Studied by Freundlish adsorption isotherm. The drug concentrations showed an influence Oil the adsorption of drug which increased with increasing AAc content. From Freundlish adsorption isotherm, the empirical constants, k and n, can be evaluated and showed the ability of hydrogel to be loaded by the drug and the affinity of the drug to be uptake onto the hydrogel respectively. FTIR, TGA, and SEM techniques were used to Study the characterization of hydrogel (2-VP/AAc). Additionally, the release of the drug loaded from hydrogel discs was Studied microbiologically to show that hydrophilic structure of the hydrogel has art antimicrobial effect as a dehydration of cytoplasm and unbalance of the cell wall functions. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci M: 1369-1380,2009