Cytotoxicity of three maleic anhydride copolymers and common solvents used for polymer solvation

Three maleic anhydride copolymers were synthesized by free-radical copolymerization. The synthesized products were named as follows: maleic anhydride-styrene (MAST); maleic anhydride-vinyl acetate (MAVA), and maleic anhydride-methyl methacrylate (MAMMA). Initiators used in the reactions were azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN, 70 A degrees C, benzene) for MAST and benzoyl-peroxide [BPO, 80 A degrees C, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)] for MAVA and MAMMA. Structural characterizations were carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance [H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and C-13-APT (attached-proton test)] spectrometry. Surface morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Solubility of the copolymers was examined in water and in twelve different organic solvents. Cytotoxicity of the copolymers and the solvents was evaluated by using a mouse fibroblast cell line (L929), copolymers had almost no toxicity. Of the twelve organic solvents, acetone, MEK, and tetrahydrofuran (THF) produced the least toxicity. MEK was found to be the best solvent and used for the solvation of the copolymers.