To study the influence of polymer purity on microsphere characteristics, bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded biodegradable microspheres were prepared by spray drying using two samples of poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PLG, (50:50, mwt = 35 and 69 kDa). Polymer properties were varied by DL-lactide and glycolide addition or by ultrafiltration. While the effective drug loading was not affected by polymer purity, Tg was decreased with increasing monomer and oligomer content. The removal of these low molecular weight substances by ultrafiltration led to a narrower molecular weight distribution compared to the untreated PLG. Concerning the polymer with the higher molecular weight, microsphere morphology was also strongly affected by polymer composition. In contrast to the non-modified PLG, monomer addition yielded particles with a much smoother surface structure. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity of the microspheres prepared from the polymer pretreated by ultrafiltration was significantly reduced, whereas monomer addition caused a dramatic decrease of cells surviving contact with the microsphere extract. The in vivo degradation rate of the ultrafiltered microspheres was decreased and as a result, protein release at later times was slowed down. Furthermore, depending on the effective drug loading level, monomer addition resulted in a decrease in the initial protein burst. It can be concluded that the effect of low molecular weight impurities in a polymer on microsphere characteristics and on cytotoxicity cannot be ignored. Their elimination is possible by ultrafiltration.