A cryogel-forming vinyl alcohol co-polymer is operable to form a cryogel, i.e., a hydrogel formed by crytropic gelation, in an aqueous solution at a concentration of less than about 10% by weight, in the absence of a chemical cross-linking agent and in the absence of an emulsifier. In one embodiment, a vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogel comprises at least about 75% by weight water and a vinyl alcohol co-polymer, wherein the vinyl alcohol co-polymer is operable to form a cryogel in an aqueous solution at a concentration of less than about 10% by weight, in the absence of a chemical cross-linking agent and in the absence of an emulsifier. In another embodiment, a vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogel comprises at least abut 75% by weight water and a vinyl alcohol co-polymer comprising a saponified product of a vinyl acetate co- polymer formed from at least about 80% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer, and (i) at least about 3% by weight of acrylamide monomer or a mixture of acrylamide monomer and acrylic acid monomer, or (ii) at least about 5% by weight acrylic acid monomer. The vinyl acetate co- polymer, vinyl alcohol co-polymer and vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogel may be formed according to particular methods, and the vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogels may be used in various applications including biomedical implants and thin films and for delivery of therapeutic or cosmetic agents.L’invention concerne un copolymère d’alcool vinylique formant un cryogel, qui est utilisable pour former un cryogel, c.-à-d. un hydrogel formé par gélification cryotrope, dans une solution aqueuse à une concentration inférieure à environ 10 % en poids, en l’absence d’un agent de réticulation chimique et en l’absence d’un émulsifiant. Selon un mode de réalisation, un cryogel de copolymère d’alcool vinylique comprend au moins environ 75 % en poids d’eau et un copolymère d’alcool vinylique, le copolymère d’alcool vinylique étant utilisable pour former un cryogel dans une solution aqueuse à une conce
