D,L-tetrahydropalmatine (THP)-loaded poly {[alpha-maleic anhydride-omega-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)]-co-(ethy cyanoacrylate)) (PEGECA) amphiphilic graft copolymer nanoparticles (PEGECAT NPs) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation technique. The effects of solvent property, temperature, copolymer composition, and drug feeding on the drug-loaded amount and size of PEGECAT NPs were investigated. The morphological structure of PEGECAT NPs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR), and the size was measured by laser particle size analyzer (LPSA). In vitro release behaviors of drug from PEGECAT NPs were examined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrate that PEGECAT NPs take on a spherical morphology with an inner core and outer shell before and after in vitro release. THP can be incorporated into the hydrophobic core of PEGECAT NPs and the drug-loaded amount is higher than 5%. The release of THP from PEGECAT NPs is initially fast and then slows down. The accumulated release is lower than 40% after 48 h. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 110: 3525-3531, 2008