Knowra Polyethylene glycol Polyethylene glycol Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a family of polymers built from repeating ethylene oxide units. Its solubility, viscosity, and physical form vary with molecular mass.
Ethylene oxide : Ethylene oxide is a reactive, three-membered-ring compound used to make ethoxylated chemicals and polymers. Ring-opening polymerization of this molecule creates PEG’s repeating backbone.
Hydrogen bond : A hydrogen bond is an attractive interaction involving a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom. Water can hydrogen-bond to PEG’s ether oxygens, helping explain its hydration.
Polyethylene glycol 3350 : Polyethylene glycol 3350 is a water-soluble PEG grade used as an osmotic laxative. This defined molecular-mass grade illustrates PEG’s use in oral medicines.
Polypropylene glycol : Polypropylene glycol is a polymer made from propylene oxide units, with properties that depend on molecular mass and structure. Its methyl groups make it less hydrophilic than PEG and distinguish their applications.
Ring-opening polymerization : Ring-opening polymerization forms polymers by opening cyclic monomers and joining them into chains. This polymerization route links ethylene oxide units into PEG chains.
Ether : An ether is an organic compound containing an oxygen atom bonded to two carbon atoms. Ether linkages recur along PEG’s backbone and provide sites that interact with water.
PEGylation : PEGylation is the covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol chains to a molecule or surface. Attaching PEG can change a therapeutic molecule’s solubility, circulation, or interactions with biological systems.
Polyvinyl alcohol : Polyvinyl alcohol is a water-soluble synthetic polymer with repeating carbon-chain units bearing hydroxyl groups. It provides a water-compatible polymer alternative with a different backbone and film-forming behavior.
Molecular mass : Molecular mass is the mass of a molecule, commonly expressed in daltons or grams per mole. PEG’s molecular mass strongly influences its viscosity, physical form, and behavior in solution.
End group : A polymer end group is the chemical functionality at the end of a polymer chain. PEG end groups can be modified to attach the polymer to drugs, surfaces, or other molecules.
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