Amphiphilic polymer and processes of forming the same

Disclosed are an amphiphilic polymer, its synthesis and uses thereof. The polymer has a hydrocarbon backbone with —COOH side groups. It further has first aliphatic moieties with a main chain of about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms and 0 to about 3 heteroatoms, and second aliphatic moieties that have a main chain of about 3 to about 80 carbon atoms and about 2 to about 40 heteroatoms. The second aliphatic moieties have a copolymerisable group. In the synthesis a maleic anhydride polymer of formula (I) where n is an integer from about 10 to about 10000 and R1 is H or methyl, is reacted with a monofunctional compound with an alkyl chain of about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms and 0 to about 2 heteroatoms, and with an at least bifunctional compound with an alkyl chain of about 3 to about 80 carbon atoms and 0 to about 40 heteroatoms. The functional group of the monofunctional compound and one functional group of the at least bifunctional compound can form a linkage with an anhydride. Another functional group of the at least bifunctional compound, which is not allowed to react with the maleic anhydride polymer, is copolymerisable.