Dissociation of peptide when in solution or attached to a polymer was investigated. Magnified solvation of peptide-resins occurred in solvent with similar polarity. Conversely the solubilization of peptides was not usually directly related to the medium polarity. The greater the difference between acidity and basicity of solvent and its potential to form van der Waals interaction, the stronger its solubilization strength. Solvents with similar electrophilicity and nucleophilicity usually did not solvate aggregated peptide-resins nor dissolve peptides. The peptide solubilization in water-containing mixed solvents depended on combination of acidity/basicity of both components. Some criteria for choosing suitable solvents for peptide-resin solvation or peptide solubilization could be advanced. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.