a method for the production of biodegradable nanoparticles with an average particle size of less than 400 nm . in a first step , a macromonomer is prepared in a ring opening polymerization process between a hydrophilic acrylate compound as an initiator and hydrophobic cyclic monomers , wherein the macromonomer comprises at least two repetitive units based on the cyclic monomer . in a second step , this macromonomer or a mixture of macromonomers and / or commercial biocompatible monomers is polymerized , e . g . in a starved , miniemulsion or emulsion radical polymerization in water in the presence of a surfactant to the nanoparticle without necessitating additional subsequent steps for the actual production of the nanoparticles . the correspondingly made nanoparticles and uses thereof also are disclosed .