Tuning Properties of Xylitol Polyesters Using Varied Diacids For Nanoparticle Drug Delivery
Board Location: #81
Discipline: Nanoscience or Materials Science
Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering
Session: 1
Mikayla Smith - Florida A&M University
Co-Author(s): Kadisha Culpepper, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FloridaNatalie Arnett, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FloridaLovena Justilien, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida
Cancer is among the leading causes of death in the United States. This research focuses on the effect of various diacids on the properties of xylitol-based polyesters used as part of nanoparticle cancer drug delivery systems. Different homopolymers and copolymers were prepared via melt polymerization at 150 °C by reacting a diacid, either sebacic, suberic, dodecanedioic acid, or a combination of two of them, with the xylitol monomer. The properties of these polymers were characterized and the effect on nanoparticle formation was quantified. Homopolymers made from xylitol and both sebacic and suberic acid reacted to form a gelatinous solid after 15 hours, whereas the reaction incorporating dodecanedioic acid resulted in a solid polymer within 13 hours. 13C NMR analysis confirmed the formation of the ester bonds between xylitol and the diacids by the appearance of a peak 173 ppm. Overall, a higher concentration of methylene groups on the homopolymer backbone resulted in decreased thermal stability. Poly (xylitol sebacate) (PXS, Td = 222 °C), which has a higher starting number of methylene groups in the sebacic acid monomer, exhibited lower decomposition temperature (Td) than poly (xylitol suberate) (PXSub, Td =232 °C). Similar thermal stability trends were observed in the poly (xylitol dodecandioate)-co-poly(xylitol suberate) (PXD50Sub50, Td = 220 °C) and poly (xylitol sebacate)-co-poly(xylitol suberate) (PXS50Sub50, Td = 240 °C). These decomposition values were determined using TGA thermograms. All the polymers studied demonstrated excellent solubility in DMSO and DMF. Initial studies on the nanoparticles made from PXS by means of nanoprecipitation showed that they were 132 nm in diameter with a zeta potential of -80 mV. Future studies will focus on forming nanoparticles from the other polymers prepared in this research with sizes between 100-200 nm and positive zeta potentials.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation
Faculty Advisor: Natalie Y. Arnett, natalie.arnett@famu.edu
Role: I synthesized the homopolymers and copolymers that were the focus of this research. I determined the thermal stability of each polymer using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. I prepared the samples for FTIR spectroscopy, as well as performed FTIR spectroscopy on a number of polymer samples. I conducted solubility tests and prepared samples for NMR analysis. I performed analysis of the FTIR and NMR data for a number of polymer samples of interest. I assisted in the preparation of samples for the nanoprecipitation procedure.