Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

Synthesis of Poly(silyl ether- ester) s and Their Nanoparticles as Potential Drug Delivery Systems

We report the design and development of a new family of poly(silyl ether-ester) (PSEE) polymers with potential for nanoparticle-based drug delivery. These polymers were synthesized through ring-opening reduction polymerization of various anhydrides with dihydrosilanes, using tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) as a catalyst. The structures were confirmed by characteristic 1H and 13C NMR resonances, with molecular weight distributions assessed by GPC. Importantly, the synthetic method proved to be scalable and tunable, allowing controlled variation of polymer and nanoparticle properties. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited favorable features for drug delivery, including nanoscale dimensions (~90 nm), uniform spherical morphology, and a moderately stable negative zeta potential. Degradation studies revealed excellent stability at physiological pH but pH-responsive breakdown under acidic conditions, making them well suited for tumor-targeted release. As a proof of concept, the anticancer drug doxorubicin was successfully encapsulated, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 46.13 ± 0.44% and a drug loading of 3.00 ± 0.51%, measured by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Biocompatibility tests demonstrated that the PSEE nanoparticles were non-toxic and well tolerated by endothelial cells under tested conditions. Together, these results highlight PSEEs polymers as a promising platform for future drug delivery applications.