Ionic complexes of biosynthetic poly(malic acid) and poly(glutamic acid) as prospective drug-delivery systems
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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Jose A Portilla-Arias1, Montserrat García-Alvarez, Antxon Martínez de Ilarduya
1Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, ETSEIB, Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Abstract:
The hydrolytic degradability and erythromycin release from stoichiometric ionic complexes of biotechnological poly(beta,L-malic acid)s and poly(gamma,D-glutamic acid)s with alkyltrimethylammonium surfactants were investigated. The influence of pH, temperature and antibiotic load on hydrolysis rate was examined. It was found that poly(malic acid) complexes degraded by a surface erosion mechanism at a higher rate than poly(glutamic acid) complexes, which eroded in bulk. Erythromycin was lodged in the paraffinic subphase of the complexes and upon aging it was delivered according to a sigmoidal profile that appeared to be independent on the antibiotic load.
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