This article describes the synthesis and characterization of 2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, (HEMA-co-NVP), via free radical polymerization followed by grafting of poly(lactide) onto (HEMA-co-NVP) copolymers, via ring opening polymerization using tin octoate as a catalyst. The copolymers and the grafted copolymers (i.e., amphiphiles) were subjected to sustained release studies using salicylic acid, as a model drug. Characterization of the formed copolymers was performed using (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, FTIR, TGA, DSC, and SEM techniques. Derivative of TGA thermogram was used to determine %hydrophilicity and %hydrophobicity in the grafted and ungrafted copolymers. The SEM morphology revealed porous layers with crispy structure that were most likely due to the presence of poly(lactide) chains. At lower content of poly(lactide) moiety, grafted copolymers showed non-Fickian diffusion release rate, whereas Fickian diffusion release rate at higher content of poly(lactide) was observed. The increase of poly(lactide) content (i.e., larger %hydrophobicity) in the copolymer increased the drug-sustainability, due to the consistent but porous amphiphilic degradable structures that allow controllable release of drug in time interval. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 840-848, 2011