(731g) Development and Characterization of Soluble Polyphenolic Poly(beta amino ester) Polymers for Single Step Nanoparticle Formulations

Many polyphenols are natural compounds found in plants with a wide variety of health benefits including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and the potential for DNA repair and UV-blocking effects. However, the vast majority of these compounds experience poor bioavailability, low absorption, and aggregation, which diminishes their potential as therapeutic agents. Poly(beta amino esters), or PβAEs, are proven to be effective and efficient drug delivery and controlled release systems. The polyphenols are incorporated into the PβAE system allowing for not only facile and enhanced uptake, but controlled and targeted delivery of the polyphenol. Currently, polyphenolic PβAEs are synthesized into crosslinked systems which can limit the processability of the polymer. This limited processability is due to the increased stiffness and density from the crosslinked network. A soluble polyphenol PβAE network increases the processability of the polymer while retaining the benefits of the crosslinked system. Nanoparticles will be made from the synthesized linear polyphenolic PβAE utilizing a single step dispersion method. Through dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), zeta potential, viscometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and degradation studies of both the polymer and nanoparticle, the properties of the linear polyphenolic PβAE system will be determined.