A composition comprising an alkylated and crosslinked polymer and salts thereof comprising the reaction product of: (a) one or more polymers, or salts and copolymers thereof having a repeat unit with the formula: where n is a positive integer and each R, independently, is H or a C1-C8 alkyl group; (b) at least one aliphatic alkylating agent; and (c) a crosslinking agent, wherein said reaction prod