The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of poly(MA-alt-AA) and poly [MA-co-AA-co-(VA)] in cell culture model. Complex-radical copolymerization (CTC) of maleic anhydride (MA), and acrylic acid (AA) and ternary polymerization of (MA), vinyl acetate (VA) and AA, considered as acceptor-donor-acceptor systems, were carried out. For the cytotoxicity study, cells were incubated at initial density of 50,000 cells/mL in 24-well plates. After 24-h incubation, the culture medium was removed and fresh medium containing five different dilutions of polymers were added separately. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed on 1st and 5th days. Apoptosis was assessed using propidium iodide/acridine orange (PI/AO) staining at the 1st and 5th days of incubation. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare the effects of different dilutions on cell viability at each evaluation period. The results showed that there were differences between co- and terpolymer in view of cell proliferation and apoptotic response. The results suggest that functional groups in co- and terpolymer group may cause apoptotic cell death without effecting cell proliferation. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115:1366-1370, 2010