易燃，溶于水，溶于通常的有机溶液剂，极易聚合甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯是一种官能单体，供制备热固性丙烯酸涂料丁苯橡胶乳液改性剂。丙烯酸改性聚氨酯涂料，水溶性电镀涂料粘合剂，纤维整理剂，纸品涂料，感光涂料及聚氯乙烯树脂改性剂等物质用的各种树脂，用途广泛。
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was the first monomer to be used to synthesize hydrogels for biomedical applications.The water swelling properties of HEMA are enhanced by copolymerization with more hydrophilic monomers.HEMA finds wide applications for drug delivery.
HEMA is used in the synthesis of biologically functional poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) coplymers.It is also used to prepare light responsive membranes of PHEMA,HEMA/ acrylamide based specific drug release hydrogel,and water soluble HEMA/methacrylic acid hydrogel for drug delivery.Effects of HEMA on the migration of dental pulp stem cells (in vitro) may be studied.