Polyacrylamide based hydrogel was synthesized using sodium carboxymethylcellulose(NaCMC). N, N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker, ammonium persulfate (APS) and N, N, N', N'-tetra-methylethylenediamine (TEMED) as initiators. Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were added to the hydrogel network to investigate the antibacterial activity of synthesized polymer. Hydrogels were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The physical and chemical characterizations of the prepared hydrogels give valuable information on the morphological structure of polymer, swelling behavior, bonding formation of gels and physical properties. The incorporation of NaCMC enhanced the hydrogel properties physically and chemically in the aspects of swelling capacity, strength and flexibility. This study also investigated the antibacterial activities of prepared hydrogels against Escherichia coli which is a Gram negative food pathogenic bacteria. For this purpose, agar diffusion test or agar plate test was carried out and inhibition area for each hydrogel was determined. Polyacrylamide hydrogel with NaCMCshowed a lowinhibition zone towards E. coli. However, interestingly, the addition of 0.03 gram of MgO nanoparticles into the hydrogel network resulted in about triple inhibitionstrength relatively.