4 Arm PEG-SH

Description

4 arm PEG-Thiol(SH) (Polyethylene Glycol Thiol) is a functional polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivative characterized by 4 thiol (SH) groups at each arm of the polyethylene glycol chain. This reactive thiol group allows for conjugation with various molecules containing disulfide bonds or other reactive groups.

Key Properties and Uses:

• Thiol Reactivity: The thiol group can participate in disulfide bond formation, Michael additions, and other reactions, making PEG-Thiol a valuable tool for modifying and conjugating biomolecules.
• Water Solubility: PEG’s hydrophilic nature imparts excellent water solubility to PEG-Thiol, making it compatible with aqueous environments.
• Biocompatibility: PEG is generally considered biocompatible, reducing the risk of immune responses or toxicity when used in biological applications.
• Applications:
  • Protein Modification: PEGylation of proteins using PEG-Thiol can enhance their solubility, stability, and half-life, making them suitable for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.
  • Drug Delivery: PEG-Thiol can be used to conjugate drugs or nanoparticles, improving their circulation time and targeting to specific tissues.
  • Biomaterials: PEG-Thiol can be incorporated into biomaterials to modify their surface properties and interactions with biological systems.
  • Diagnostics: PEG-Thiol can be used for labeling and detection of biomolecules in various diagnostic assays.

PEG thiol is generally highly soluble in water and aqueous buffers. This is due to the hydrophilic nature of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain, which forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The thiol group, while not as hydrophilic as the PEG chain, is also soluble in aqueous environments.  

Factors Affecting Solubility:

• PEG Molecular Weight: Higher molecular weight PEG chains tend to be more soluble in water.  
• Thiol Group Position: The position of the thiol group within the PEG chain can influence solubility, but this effect is typically minimal.
• pH: The pH of the solution can affect thiol solubility. Thiol groups can ionize at certain pH values, which may alter their solubility characteristics.