Poly(.beta.-thioether ester) compositions, methods of making the poly(.beta.-thioether ester) compositions, and methods of using the poly(.beta.-thioether ester) compositions are provided. The poly(.beta.-thioether ester) can be produced by contacting a thiol ester composition and an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated ester to produce a mixture and then heating the mixture to produce the poly(.beta.-thioether ester). In some embodiments, the thiol ester compositions include thiol esters, hydroxy thiol esters, and cross-linked thiol esters.