A novel amphipathic polymeric photointiator based on thioxanthone (TX) (APTX) containing coinitiator amine was synthesized by introducing TX, amine and short poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain into the backbone of polymeric chain together. APTX can be not only dispersed easily in many solvents and acrylate monomers but also is soluble in water. In comparison to low-molecular weight analogues photoinitiators, APT-X is very efficient for photoinitiation of acrylate monomers 2,2-bis[4-(acryloxy-polyethoxy)phenyl] propane (ABPE-10) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), and acrylamide (AM) in aqueous solution. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.