Biological activity of maleic anhydride copolymers .1. Biocompatibility and antitumoural effects of maleic anhydride-vinyl acetate, maleic anhydride-methyl methacrylate and maleic anhydride-styrene copolymers

A series of maleic anhydride (MA)-vinyl acetate (VA), MA-methyl methacrylate (MM), and MA-styrene (S) copolymers were prepared and characterized. On employing various amounts of initiator, maleic anhydride-vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene copolymers with molecular weights ranging between 18000 and 200000 have been obtained. The in vivo and in vitro tests performed on K-562 cellular cultures (human chronic myeloid leukaemia) have shown that, as a function of the molecular weight, the synthesized copolymers demonstrate a 50% in vitro cytotoxicity and an average tumour regression of maximum 68%.