A polymeric prodrug of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) was synthesized using galactosylated poly(L-glutamic acid hydrazide) (Gal-HZ-PLGA) as a biodegradable and targetable carrier to hepatocytes. Poly(L-glutamic acid hydrazide) was prepared by reacting poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) with hydrazine monohydrate, followed by reaction with 2-imino-2-methoxyethyl-1-thiogalactosides to obtain Gal-HZ-PLGA after i.v. injection. (111)In-labeled galactosylated poly(L-glutamic acid hydrazide) ((111)In-Gal-HZ-PLGA) rapidly accumulated in the liver in a dose-dependent manner, whereas (111)In-poly(L-glutamic acid hydrazide) did not, indicating the involvement of a galactose-specific mechanism in the uptake of (111)In-Gal-HZ-PLGA. Fractionation of liver cells revealed that (111)In-Gal-HZ-PLGA was preferentially taken up by liver parenchymal cells. After being taken up by the liver, (111)In-Gal-HZ-PLGA was gradually degraded, and radioactive metabolites with low molecular weight were detected within 10 min after injection. Then, PGE(1) or [(3)H]PGE(1) was coupled to Gal-HZ-PLGA via a hydrazone bond under mild conditions to obtain PGE(1) conjugate. After i.v. injection, [(3)H]PGE(1) conjugate was rapidly taken up by the liver (more than 80% of the dose). After injection of the conjugate, (3)H radioactivity remained in the liver, representing about 70% of the dose, even at 24 h, whereas little radioactivity remained in the organ at 1 h after the injection of free [(3)H]PGE(1). Finally, its pharmacological activity was examined in mice with fulminant hepatitis induced by peritoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. The i.v. injection of PGE(1) conjugate at a dose of 1 mg (0.074 mg PGE(1))/kg effectively inhibited the increase of plasma glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity, whereas twice this dose (0.15 mg/kg) of free PGE(1) had little effect. These results suggest that the PGE(1) conjugate is an excellent polymeric prodrug of PGE(1) for hepatitis therapy.