Physical trapping type polymeric micelle drug preparation

A method for trapping hydrophobic drugs, which comprises heating, ultrasonication or organic solvent treatment of a hydrophobic drug and a drug carder comprised of a block copolymer of formula I, or II to physically trap said hydrophobic drug in polymeric micelles composed of said drug carrier, wherein formula I and II are represented:

• ##STR7## wherein:
• R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of H and methyl;
• R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of NH, CO and R.sub.6 (CH.sub.2).sub.q R.sub.7 where
• R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of -OC(O)-, -OC(O)N(H)-, -N(H)C(O)-, -N(H)C(O)O-, -N(H)C(O)N(H)-, -C(O)N(H)- and -C(O)O-:
• R.sub.7 is NH or CO;
• and
• q is 1-6;
• R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of H, -CH.sub.3, -CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H, -CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H, -CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 CH.sub.2 .O slashed., -CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 CH.sub.2 .O slashed., -CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.3, -CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, -CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, -CH.sub.2 .O slashed., -(CH.sub.2).sub.P C.sub.6 H.sub.5, -(CH.sub.2).sub.P COOR.sub.5 and -CH.sub.2 C(O)N(H)R.sub.5 ;
• where
• p is 1 or 2;
• R.sub.5 is selected from the group consisting of benzyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group, said C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group being optionally substituted with a benzyl group;
• and
• R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of H, -OH, -C(O)-alkyl, -N(H)-alkyl and -O-alkyl, wherein said alkyl is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group;
• m=4-2500;
• and
• n=2-300.