Abstract: A method for preparing hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) compositions is provided, wherein the method enables preparation of adhesives having a particular, optimized degree of adhesion. That is, the hydrophilic PSA is comprised of a hydrophilic polymer and a complementary short-chain plasticizing agent, wherein the hydrophilic polymer and plasticizing agent are capable of hydrogen bonding or electrostatic bonding to each other and are present in a ratio that optimizes key characteristics of the adhesive composition, such as adhesive strength, cohesive strength and hydrophilicity. The adhesive is useful in a wide variety of contexts, e.g., as a biomedical adhesive for application to the skin or other body surface, and as such finds utility in the areas of drug delivery systems (e.g., topical, transdermal, transmucosal, iontophoretic), medical skin coverings and wound healing products and biomedical electrodes.