Synthesis and Biocompatibility of Maleic Anhydride Copolymers: 1. Maleic Anhydride-Vinyl Acetate, Maleic Anhydride-Methyl Methacrylate and Maleic Anhydride-Styrene

Abstract

A series of maleic anhydride (MA)–vinyl acetate (VA), MA–methyl methacrylate (MM) and MA–styrene (S) copolymers were prepared and characterized. By employing various amounts of initiator, MA–VA, MA–MM and MA–S copolymers with molecular weights ranging between 18 000 and 219 000 were obtained. The ‘in vivo’ and ‘in vitro’ tests performed on K562 cellular cultures (human chronic myeloid leukaemia) and also on Westar rats (inoculated with the Walker 256 carcinosarcome) showed that, as a function of the molecular weight, the copolymers synthesized had a 50% in vitro cytotoxicity and a mean tumour regression of a maximum of 68%. © 1997 SCI.