What are Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers?
Polyethylene Glycol PEG linkers, also known as PEG spacers or PEG chains. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) linkers usually have better aqueous solubility and lower immunogenicity. They are widely used in various fields, including biotechnology, drug delivery, and bioconjugation, etc. They provide a flexible and hydrophilic bridge between different functional moieties or entities, allowing for improved solubility, biocompatibility, and controlled release.
Polyethylene Glycol PEG linkers can be classified into various types according to the geometry of synthesis, molecular weight, particular functional groups, and applications. Some common types of Polyethylene Glycol PEG linkers are:
- Linear Polyethylene Glycol PEG
- Branched Polyethylene Glycol PEG
- Heterobifunctional Polyethylene Glycol PEG
- Homobifunctional Polyethylene Glycol PEG
- Cleavable Polyethylene Glycol PEG
- PEGylated Lipids
- Low molecular weight PEG (e.g., PEG-200, PEG-400)
- Medium molecular weight PEG (e.g., PEG-600, PEG-1000)
- High molecular weight PEG (e.g., PEG-2000 and above)
- Functionalized PEG such as Amine-terminated PEG (NH2-PEG), Carboxyl-terminated PEG, Thiol-terminated PEG, Hydroxyl-terminated PEG (OH-PEG), Maleimide-terminated PEG, Azide-terminated PEG, Alkyne-terminated PEG, Disulfide-terminated PEG, Stealth PEG, Homobifunctional PEG, Click Chemistry-Compatible PEG, etc. To read more about Polyethylene Glycol Classification.
The quality, purity and homogeneity of the PEG linker can affect the success of the conjugation reaction and the stability of the final product. Buy high-quality Polyethylene Glycol PEG linkers from AxisPharm at competitive prices.
Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers Uses and Applications
1. Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers in Antibody Drug Conjugation
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting antibody delivers a covalently attached payload to a cell type of interest, wherein the molecule is internalized and lysosomally processed and the payload is released. Pegylation of therapeutics will bring more improvements compared with regular non-pegylated ones, such as increased water solubility, improved stability, controlled release, extended drug half-life, and an enhanced PK/ PD (pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic) profile. PEGylation of therapeutic proteins occurs mainly in the N-terminal group, carbohydrates, sulfhydryl, and the amino acids Thr, Cys, Asp, Glu Lys, His, Arg, Tyr, and Ser. In the course of the PEGylation of small molecule drugs, a multi-arm polyethylene glycol will bond multiple drug molecules, ensuring a high drug load and an enhanced drug release.
2. Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers in PEGylation
PEGylation of a molecule is the process by which PEG is either non-covalently or covalently attached to a potential protein, peptide, or antibody of interest to produce alterations in the physiochemical properties of the macromolecule in areas like conformation, electrostatic binding and hydrophobicity. The key advantages of attaching PEG to a biomacromolecule are to pass along PEG’s :
1) High solubility in aqueous and organic solutions
2) Its hydrophilic character
3) Its non-immunogenic properties
3. Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers in Click Chemistry
Click chemistry features a fast, versatile, regiospecific, and a high-yield reaction. It includes azides/ terminal alkynes, azide/DBCO, azide/BCN, TCO/tetrazine, etc. It is also combined with PEG linker and has found applications in a wide variety of research areas, including materials sciences, polymer chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. Recently, click chemistry has become a valuable molecular imaging and drug delivery for diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the biomedical field. Click chemistry can also be used to develop molecular tools, such as DNA nanocatalysts, chemical synthesis of genomic DNA, assisted CRISPR-Cas gene editing, ADC and PROTAC synthesis, etc.
4. Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers in Dye Labeling
Fluorescent dyes such as cyanine, fluorescein, rhodamine, etc, can be pegylated. Compared to conventional fluorescent molecules, the pegylated dyes offer improved hydrophilicity, solvent solubility, superior brightness, no self-quenching, high photostability, and less no specific binding.
5. Polyethylene Glycol PEG Linkers in Drug Delivery
Emerging PEG-based drug delivery systems are the pharmaceutical industry's gold standard for treating diseases such as cancer, hemophilia, pain or diabetes. With the development of drugs from small molecules to peptides and proteins, to nucleic acid drugs, and finally to living cell therapy, new progress has been made in drug delivery technology. The challenges of various therapies can be well resolved through drug modification and microenvironment regulation.
The
PEG drug delivery system can be used in PEG-drug conjugation, hydrogel, nanoparticle, etc, and have the features below.
Maintaining the spatial configuration and biological activity of drug molecules
Promoting the targeting of drug molecules to lesion tissues or target cells
Enhancing the efficiency of drug molecules across all levels of biological barriers
Improving the efficiency of intracellular drug delivery and release
AxisPharm - A Leading Polyethylene Glycol PEG Supplier
AxisPharm is a San Diego based leading PEG linker manufacturer with more than 5,000 high-purity polyethylene glycol linkers in stock. The wide selection of lengths and functionalities will empower the PEGylation, bioconjugation, crosslinking, ADC drug development and biolabeling for pharmaceutical and biotech R&D.
