Microbial poly( β , L -malic acid) was modifi ed with either L -leucine ethyl ester (L) or L -phenylalanine methyl ester (F) to produce amphiphylic copolymers. The degradation of these copolymers in aqueous buffer took place under physiological conditions in a few weeks by hydrolysis of the side chain ester group followed by cleavage of the main chain. Spherical nanoparticles with diameters ranging between 70 and 230 nm were prepared from these copolymers by the dialysis-precipitation method. No alteration of the cell viability was observed after incubation of these nanoparticles in different cell lines. Anticancer drugs temozolomide and doxorubicin were encapsulated in the nanoparticles. Temozolomide was released within several hours whereas doxorubicin took several weeks to be completely liberated. ; Peer Reviewed ; Postprint (published version)