A family of graft copolymers derivatives obtained from alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) have been studied as potential self-assembling macromolecules forming stable polymeric micelles at low critical micellar concentration. These polymers are obtained grafting on PHEA poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (M-w 5000 g/mol) (PHEA-PEG), hexadecylamine (PHEA-C-16) or both moieties (PHEA-PEG-C-16). The PHEA derivatives were characterised by a multi-angle light scattering (MALS) photometer on line to a size exclusion chromatography system in obtaining the molar mass distribution of the polymers. In addition, to investigate the capacity to form micellar aggregates in aqueous medium the MALS photometer was used in off-line batch mode in obtaining molar mass and dimension of the polymeric aggregates. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.