PEGs by Industry & Application

Hydrogels are three-dimensional, cross-linked polymer networks that can absorb and retain large amounts of water. They are used in a wide range of applications due to their unique properties, such as high water content, biocompatibility, and tunable mechanical and chemical properties. 

Crosslinking kits are commonly used in the creation of hydrogels, three-dimensional polymer networks that can absorb and retain large amounts of water, which have numerous applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing.

Hydrogels are used in various applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Hydrogels can be designed to mimic the extracellular matrix, providing an ideal environment for cells to grow and develop. They can be used to deliver drugs or proteins to specific sites in the body, allowing for targeted therapy with reduced side effects. Hydrogels are also used in wound healing, as they can provide a moist environment for the wound to heal, preventing scarring and promoting tissue regeneration.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are nanoparticles composed of lipids. They are a novel pharmaceutical drug delivery system, and a novel pharmaceutical formulation. LNPs as a drug delivery vehicle were first approved in 2018 for the siRNA drug. LNPs became more widely known in late 2020, as some COVID-19 vaccines that use RNA vaccine technology coat the fragile mRNA strands with PEGylated lipid nanoparticles as their delivery vehicle. LNPs used in mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are made of four types of lipids: an ionizable cationic lipid (whose positive charge binds to negatively charged mRNA), a PEGylated lipid (for stability), a phospholipid (for structure), and cholesterol (for structure). Because of rapid clearance by the immune system of the positively charged lipid, neutral ionizable amino lipids were developed. A novel squaramide lipid (that is, partially aromatic four-membered rings, which can participate in pi–pi interactions) has been a favored part of the delivery system used.

Antibody-drug conjugate linkers, or ADC linkers, peptide-drug conjugate linkers or PDC linkers are a type of chemical linker used in the development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) or peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs). ADCs and PDCs are a type of targeted cancer therapy that uses monoclonal antibodies or peptides to deliver cytotoxic drugs directly to cancer cells, reducing the risk of systemic toxicity. 

ADC linkers typically contain a PEG linker as part of their structure. A PEG linker is a short chain of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules that is used to attach two or more molecules together. PEG linkers are commonly used in the development of drug conjugates and in protein engineering to create fusion proteins or to attach tags for detection or purification. 

The linker is a critical component of the ADC, as it connects the antibody and the drug payload. The linker must be stable in circulation to prevent premature release of the drug, but also be able to release the drug once inside the cancer cell.

ADC linkers are designed to be cleaved under specific conditions, such as low pH or the presence of certain enzymes, such as proteases. This enables the drug to be released in the targeted cancer cell, where the cleaving conditions are present.

Click chemistry involves the use of highly reactive, small molecules that react with each other under mild reaction conditions, to form a stable product. The reaction is often described as “click” because of the ease and efficiency of the reaction.

One of the primary applications of click chemistry is in the synthesis of new drugs. The highly efficient and selective nature of the reaction makes it an ideal tool for synthesizing complex molecules with high yields. Click chemistry can also be used to modify existing drugs, improving their pharmacological properties or making them more selective.

In bioconjugation, click chemistry is used to link two molecules together, such as a protein and a small molecule. The highly selective nature of the reaction allows for the creation of precise and stable conjugates that can be used for a variety of applications, including targeted drug delivery and imaging.

One of the most commonly used click chemistry reactions involves the use of a DBCO reagent (dibenzocyclooctyne) and azide. This reagent contains a strained cyclooctyne ring that reacts with azide functional groups in a highly specific and efficient manner, forming a stable triazole linkage.

Dye labeling is a chemical process that involves attaching fluorescent dye or color dyes to biological molecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids. Fluorescent dyes are commonly used in dye labeling applications to visualize and track biomolecules and cells, allowing for a better understanding of biological processes.

In imaging applications, dye-labeled molecules can be used to visualize the localization and movement of specific molecules within cells or tissues. The fluorescent or color dyes emit light that can be detected using microscopy, allowing researchers to study the spatial distribution of molecules within biological samples.

In quantification applications, dye labeling can be used to measure the amount of a specific molecule present in a sample. The intensity of the dye fluorescence or color can be correlated with the amount of the labeled molecule, allowing for accurate and precise quantification.

In detection and sensing applications, dye-labeled molecules can be used to detect the presence of specific molecules or biomarkers. For example, dye-labeled antibodies can be used to detect the presence of specific proteins in biological samples, allowing for the diagnosis of diseases or the monitoring of disease progression.

Drug delivery systems have the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of drugs by targeted delivery to specific tissues or organs, to minimize off-target and off-tissue toxicities.

One such technology is controlled drug release systems, which can release drugs in a controlled and sustained manner over an extended period. These systems can be designed to release the drug at a specific rate, location, or trigger, ensuring that the drug reaches the target site in the desired concentration and for the desired duration.

Another drug delivery technology is targeted drug delivery, which involves delivering the drug specifically to the diseased tissue or organ. This technology reduces the exposure of healthy tissues to the drug, minimizing side effects, and improving the efficacy of the drug. Targeted drug delivery can be achieved using various methods, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), liposomes, and nanoparticles.