Amphiphilic cholesterol containing polymers for drug delivery systems

The interaction of binary copolymers poly(maleic anhydride-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) with cholesterol results in formation of cholesterol containing polymers, which contain from 4.6 to 46.0 mol % monocholesteryl maleic links. Their structure was confirmed using functional analysis and IR spectroscopy. Acidic and anhydride links of these copolymers form polymeric salts if react with alkali. These salts are surfactants which in aqueous medium form a hierarchy micelles and micellar aggregates depending on the copolymer concentration. Using conductometry it was found that preferably monomolecular micelles are formed in dilute solutions, and micellar aggregates begin to form at higher concentrations. In aqueous media polymeric salts are able to solubilize such lipophilic substances as Sudan III dye and anticancer drug curcumin. Efficiency of solubilization towards Sudan III grows if the content of monocholesteryl maleic fragment in surfactant increases.