Biological activity of maleic anhydride copolymers. I. 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 18,000 and 200,000 have been obtained. The in vivo and in vitro tests performed on K562 cellular cultures (human chronic myeloid leukemia) 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%.

Drug delivery systems based on inorganic materials: I. Synthesis and characterization of a zeolite-cyclophosphamide system.

Porous material of the CuX zeolite type has been synthesized and used as support for a classic antitumoral drug--cyclophosphamide (CP). The new material obtained represents a physical mixture of the two components. In vivo tests allowed biochemical and anatomopathological evaluation of antitumoral effects determined by oral administration of the CuX zeolite-CP system. Data obtained show that the intensity of the antitumoral effects of the CuX zeolite-CP system is similar as compared to that achieved by CP. A possible advantage of the CuX zeolite-CP system is the continual maintenance in the blood of a CP concentration ranging between 100 and 1,000 ng ml-1 plasma.