A diblcok copolymer monomethoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-lactide-co-2-methyl-2-carboxyl-propylene carbonate) (MPEG-b-P(LA-co-MCC)) was obtained by copolymerization of L-lactide (LA) and 2-methyl-2-benzoxycarbonyl-propylene carbonate (MBC) and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation. The pendant carboxyl groups of the copolymer MPEG-b-P(LA-co-MCC) were conjugated with antitumor drug docetaxel and tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD), respectively. H-1-NMR spectra confirmed the structure of the copolymer MPEG-b-P(LA-co-MCC/docetaxel) and MPEG-b-P(LA-co-MCC/RGD). In vitro antitumor assay indicates that the MPEG-b-P(LA-co-MCC/docetaxel) conjugate shows high cytotoxic activity against HeLa cancer cells. Cell adhesion and spreading experiment shows that copolymer MPEG-b-P(LA-co-MCC/RGD) is of benefit to cell adherence and is a promising biodegradable material for cell and tissue engineering. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 110: 2961-2970,2008