Solution properties of drug carriers based on poly[N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] containing biodegradable bonds

The solution properties of water‐soluble drug carriers based on copolymers of N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide containing p‐nitroaniline (drug model) attached to the copolymer by enzymatically degradable oligopeptide chains, were studied using light scattering, GPC and sedimentation methods. It was found that these polymers associate in water forming micelles with p‐nitroaniline being inside and hydrophilic polymer chains outside. The association number and compactness of micelles both depend on the content of hydrophobic side chains, polymer concentration and temperature. Micellar shells hinder the penetration of enzymes into the micellar core, thus reducing the rate of enzyme‐catalyzed release of p‐nitroaniline.