PEGbased

PEGbased refers to materials and systems built around polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains. These materials include polymers, copolymers, hydrogels, nanoparticles, and coatings that use PEG segments to impart hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. The term is common in biomedicine, drug delivery, and materials science.

In PEG-based constructs, PEG serves as a flexible, water-soluble backbone or crosslinker. PEG chains come in various molecular weights and can be functionalized with reactive groups (acrylates, amines, NHS esters, thiols) to enable network formation or conjugation to biomolecules. Networks are formed by physical entanglement or covalent crosslinking through ester, carbonate, or urethane linkages, or via click chemistry. The resulting materials range from soft hydrogels to stiff polymers.

Key properties include high water uptake, adjustable mechanical properties, and reduced non-specific protein adsorption. PEG can shield molecules from biological recognition, increase circulation time of therapeutics, and reduce aggregation. Some PEG variants are degradable, while others are non-degradable, affecting long-term fate in vivo.

Applications span drug delivery, where PEGylation can improve solubility and half-life; tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with PEG-based hydrogels as scaffolds; medical device coatings to reduce fouling; lubricant formulations; and cosmetics.

Limitations and considerations include potential immunogenic responses to anti-PEG antibodies in some individuals, and concerns about persistence of non-degradable PEG in the body. Purity and residual catalysts must be controlled during synthesis. PEG-based materials are subject to regulatory assessment for medical uses, with safety largely dependent on molecular weight, end groups, and degradation behavior.