Synthesis of sulphated acrylic polymers and their evaluation as inhibitors of basic fibroblast growth factor-dependent cell growth.

Sulphated acrylic polymers have been synthesised and evaluated as potential inhibitors of basic fibroblast growth factor-dependent cell growth. The polymers were synthesised with a range of molar masses using both a thermal radical method and a room temperature reduction activation route. The polymers had bimodal molar mass distributions, but much of the low molar mass component could be removed by dialysis. Some of these polymers were effective inhibitors, their effectiveness being dependent on the molar mass. IC50 values as low as 5 microg/ml could be obtained with up to 73% inhibition by 100 microg/ml. These polymers are of interest as potentially readily accessible materials for cancer therapy.