Alcohol PEG

Alcohol PEGs, or hydroxy PEG, represent a prevalent subclass of polyethylene glycols characterized by hydroxy groups at their termini. These hydroxy groups offer facile modifiability, allowing for the attachment of diverse functional groups to the PEG chains. This modification can be executed either prior to or following the crosslinking of the PEG chains with a target protein or peptide. The flexibility of alcohol PEG is underscored by its capacity for extension through the addition of more ethylene glycol units or by polymerization with ethylene oxide. This adaptability renders alcohol PEG well-suited for various applications, including the linking of drugs to molecules targeting specific cells or tissues. The alcohol group on the linker can be substituted with various active groups such as carboxylic acids, amines, sulfhydryls, alkynes, esters, tosyl, azides, bromides, etc., enabling the creation of diverse and complex functional structures. Notably, mPEG-alcohol can directly bind to drugs or biomaterials, enhancing their water solubility and reducing immunogenicity.