2015): Synthesis and characterization of a novel drug-loaded polymer, poly(lactic acid-co-aminomethyl benzimidazole), Designed Monomers and Polymers, Using aminomethyl benzimidazole (AMB) as a model of benzimidazole-type drugs, a potential biodegradable drug-loaded polymer poly(lactic acid-co-aminomethyl benzimidazole) (PLAAMB) is synthesized as designed via direct melt polycondensation starting from D,L-lactic acid (LA). When the molar feed ratio LA/AMB is 40/1, the optimal synthetic conditions, including catalyst type and dosage, polycondensation temperature, and copolymerization time are discussed. After the prepolymerization at 140°C for 8 h, using 0.4 wt% stannous oxide (SnO) as the catalyst, the melt copolymerization at 160°C for 6 h gives the copolymer with the biggest weight-average molecular weight (M w ) 5300 Da. The structure and properties of the copolymer are systematically characterized with Fourier transform infrared, 1 H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. And the investigations on the influences of different molar feed ratios on the properties of PLAAMB show that, the copolymer PLAAMB with the biggest M w of 9400 Da can be obtained. After the drug model AMB as a monomer is introduced into polylactic acid during the condensation, the T g of the obtained PLAAMB is lower than the T g of homopolymer poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA). The M w and crystallinity of PLAAMBs can meet the requirement of drug-loaded polymers in the drug delivery.