Polyanhydride nanoparticles by 'click' thiol-ene polymerizationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5py00843c

The production of degradable polyanhydride-based nanoparticles using thiol-ene 'click' polymerizations is described. Linear polyanhydrides with number-average molecular weights of several thousand g mol −1 were efficiently made through radical-mediated thiol-ene polymerization of 1,6-hexanethiol (HDT) and/or 3,5-dioxa-1,8-dithiooctane (EGDT), and 4-pentenoic anhydride (PNA). These linear polyanhydrides were used in the production of nanoparticles with diameters in the range of 250-400 nm using the emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The degradation of the particles were followed over 3-4 days, and show that hydrolysis of the anhydride moiety in the backbone occurs, decreasing the molecular weight of the polymer and reducing particle stability. The production of degradable polyanhydride-based nanoparticles using thiol-ene 'click' polymerizations is described.