BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF NEW POLY(N-1-ADAMANTYLMALEIMIDE) AND POLY(N-1-DIAMANTYLMALEIMIDE)

N-1-Diamantylmaleimide was synthesized by reaction of maleic anhydride with 1-aminodiamantane, followed by dehydration with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate. Poly(N-1-adamantylmaleimide) (IIa) and poly(N-1-d iamantylmaleimide) (IIb) were sythesized by free radical polymerizatio n. N-1-Adamanlylmaleimide (Ia) and N-1-diamantylmaleimide (Ib), exhibi ted strong activities in vitro antitumor activities. Interestingly, po ly(N-1-adamantylmaleimide) exhibited growth inhibitory values against Cole 205, Hep G2, and SK-BR-3, similar to 5-Fluorouracil. It was noted that poly(N-1-adamantylmaleimide) showed relatively lower cytoxicity against Molt-4 cells than against Cole 205, Hep G2, and SK-BR-3 cells. The decreasing antitumor activities against individual tumor cell lin e were in the order Ia > Ib > IIa > IIb. This result shows that N-subs tituents of maleimides play an important role in their antitumor activ ity. Additionally, Ia and Ib show good in vitro activity against staph ylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 while polymers IIa and IIb exhibited weak activity against S. aureus ATCC 25923.