Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)methyl and 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylates and their quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized using radiation-induced polymerization and followed reactions with primary amines C2-C10. Molecular and conformational characteristics of the copolymers were studied using light scattering and viscosimetry. As the length of an alkyl radical in increased to 6, the intramolecular interactions are disbalanced and electrostatic repulsion is suppressed, what results in the contraction of macromolecular coil and second virial coefficient, intrinsic viscosity, and macromolecular dimensions decrease. At alkyl radical length >6, steric interactions between the side groups give rise to increase in intrinsic viscosity and macromolecular dimensions, whereas the second virial coefficient continues to decrease.