The　reaction　of　poly(vinyl　alcohol)　with　glutaraldehyde　(GA)　at　different　molar　ratio　was　systematically　studied.　By　this　reaction,　white　particles　functionalized　with　aldehyde　groups　were　obtained　and　their　diameters　were　found　to　be　between　50　and　150　nm.　The　amount　of　free　-CHO　groups　on　the　surface　of　the　particles　reached　more　than　1.6　mmol/g　by　adjusting　the　ratio　of　n(GA)/n(-OH).　The　free　-CHO　groups　were　then　converted　into　alkyl　amino,　aromatic　amino,　and　hydrazide　groups　by　coupling　with　hexamethylene　diamine,　m-phenylene　diamine,　and　adipic　dihydrazide,　respectively,　and　the　length　of　the　spacer　was　also　prolonged.　Finally,　a　series　of　sugar-particle　conjugates　were　prepared　by　directly　coating　the　functionalized　particles　with　maltose,　D-(+)-glucosamine,　and　heparin.　The　anticoagulant　experiments　show　that　the　heparin　immobilized　on　the　aldehyde-　and　hydrazide-functionalized　particles　is　still　biologically　active.　(C)　2009　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.　J　Appl　Polym　Sci　114:　2937-2945,　2009