In　this　work,　biodegradable　amphiphilic　copolymer　nanoparticles　based　on　dextran,　polylactide　(PLA),　and　1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine　(DPPE)　were　prepared.　To　estimate　their　feasibility　as　drug　carriers,　an　antitumor　model　drug,　mitoxantrone　(MTO),　was　successfully　incorporated　into　the　polymeric　nanoparticles　by　double-emulsion　(DE)　and　nanoprecipitation　(NP)　methods.　The　MTO-loaded　nanoparticles　were　confirmed　by　dynamic　light　scattering　and　transmission　electron　microscopy.　The　MTO-loaded　nanoparticle　size,　size　distribution,　and　encapsulation　efficiency　were　influenced　by　the　feed　weight　ratio　of　the　copolymer　to　MTO.　In　addition,　in　vitro　release　experiments　showed　that　the　release　behavior　was　affected　by　the　fabrication　method　and　the　pH　of　the　release　media.　The　MTO-loaded　nanoparticles　showed　faster　release　by　the　NP　method　and　at　pH　5.4　than　by　the　DE　method　and　in　pH　7.4　buffer.　The　dextranPLADPPE　polymeric　nanoparticles　could　be　useful　as　drug　carriers　for　antitumor　drug　delivery.　(c)　2012　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.　J　Appl　Polym　Sci,　2012