Dextran graft copolymers, including dextran graft poly(
N-methacryloylglycylglycine) copolymers conjugated with polyethylene glycol and tyrosine (Dex-
g-PMAGGCONHPEG
3k-NHTyr), dextran graft poly(
N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide-
co-N-methacryloylglycylglycine)-tyrosine conjugates (Dex-
g-P(HPMA-
co-MAGGCONHTyr)), and dextran graft poly(methacrylpolyethylene glycol-
co-N-methacryloylglycylglycine)-tyrosine conjugates (Dex-
g-P(MPEG-
co-MAGGCONHTyr)) were synthesized for the purpose to improve the biodistribution and blood clearance time of ploy(
N-methacryloylglycylglycine)-tyrosine conjugates (Dex-
g-PMAGGCONHTyr). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) results indicated that no aggregation formed in 0.9% saline solution. The graft copolymers were labeled with
125I and the labeled copolymers are stable in 0.9% saline and 1% BSA of PBS solutions. Pharmacokinetics studies showed that
125I labeled graft copolymer Dex-
g-P(HPMA-
co-MAGGCONHTyr) had a longer blood clearance time than the others. Biodistribution images confirmed the preferable liver and spleen accumulation at 1 h after injection, and especially for blood tissue, the mean %ID/g value of the PHPMA-modified graft copolymer Dex-
g-P(HPMA-
co-MAGGCONHTyr) is 7 folds higher than that of Dex-
g-PMAGGCONHTyr.