Water-dispersible copolymers containing isothiocyanate moiety, poly(ITEMA-co-AAm) were synthesized by radical copolymerization of 2-isothiocyanatoethyl methacrylate (ITEMA) and acryl amide (AAm). After checking of water solubility of copolymers carrying various compositions, only [ITEMA (7 mol%)-co-AAm (93 mol%)] is dispersible in water. Isothiocyanate groups in the copolymer were stable in water for one week at room temperature. To cross-link the copolymers in water, 1,6-hexamethylenediamine was added into their aqueous dispersion to obtain the corresponding networked polymers. After that, cross-linked copolymer was obtained with keeping its water-dispersibility. Further, hydrogel was obtained by heating the copolymer dispersion at 100 ℃ for 30 min to be insoluble in any solvents. At higher temperature (at 100 ℃), isothiocyanate groups reacted with water to give amino groups and subsequently obtained amino groups reacted with isothiocyanate groups to form networked hydrogel. Based on these results, poly(ITEMA-co-AAm) may be useful as key precursor for forming networked polymers in water.