Activation of poly[N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] for the binding of bioactive molecules, 1. Activation with 4‐nitrophenyl chloroformate

Proper reaction conditions were determined for the activation of water‐soluble, biocompatible poly[N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (1) by esterification with 4‐nitrophenyl chloroformate (2). The rate constants of hydrolysis and aminolysis of the 4‐nitrophenyl ester groups in resulting polymer 3 were compared. It was shown that at pH 8 – 9 the rate of aminolysis in water solutions is high enough for binding bioactive molecules via NH2 groups. Cobra venom acetylcholinesterase was bound to the activated polymer 3 and thermostability and immunogenicity of this product were studied.