What is "n,n'-methylenebisacrylamide"

N,''N-Methylenebisacrylamide''' (MBAm or MBAA) is a cross-linking agent used during the formation of polymers such as polyacrylamide. Its molecular formula is CHNO. Bisacrylamide is used in biochemistry as it is one of the compounds of the polyacrylamide gel (used for SDS-PAGE). Bisacrylamide polymerizes with acrylamide and is capable of creating cross-links between polyacrylamide chains, thus creating a network of polyacrylamide rather than unconnected linear chains of polyacrylamide.