Structures and methods of making biodegradable trehalose co-polymers are disclosed. Specifically, biodegradable trehalose co-polymers consist of the general structure R5—[R1R2C—CR3R4]n-[DG]m-R6, wherein R1-R4 are independently selected from hydrogen or a side chain comprising at least one carbon atom, and wherein at least one of R1-R4 is a side chain comprising -L-trehalose, wherein L is a linker molecule that links trehalose to the monomer through at least one of the trehalose hydroxyl groups (—OH), wherein DG is a biodegradable group, and wherein R5 and R6 are end groups.