A novel bio-affinitive, photocuring, and membrane-forming gelatin derivative was synthesized in this study. This process was based on the amide formation between carboxylic acid and the amine in methanol-water media using dicycloliexyl-carbodiimide (DCC) as a condenser. Gelatin and glycine were the sources of amine in the model reaction. Since there were two anhydride groups in each 3,3,4,4'-benzophenone tetra-carboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) molecule, two 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) molecules were used to induce the ring-opening reaction of BTDA and release two carboxylic acid groups. The resulting photoreactive gelatin was called GE-BTHE, of which the photoreactive component was the ketone groups of BTDA and HEMA that played the role of double bond supplier. This photoreactive gelatin could be converted from the transparent liquid phase into swollen membrane by a 6-min irradiation of high pressure mercury lamp. The most efficient irradiation was at 267 nm and the highest degree of swelling of the cured GE-BTHE membrane could reach 5.9. The elongation from the dried gel remained 5-10'%, i.e., relatively elastic. The properties of this gelatin derivative were investigated using amide formation analysis, calculation of the gel content and the swelling ratio, and monitoring of the photocuring process. The GE-BTHE synthesized in this study should be very potential in applications such as protective wound dressings and hemostatic absorbents for minimally invasive surgery. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.