PEGylation is the process of attaching the strands of the polymer PEG to molecules and surfaces.
While PEGylation is most used in areas of research with peptides, proteins, and antibody fragments, they can also be used to improve the safety and efficiency of many therapeutics, instrumentation and bio-consumables.
At IST, we offer covalent attachment of various PEGs to consumables, flow cells or instruments to reduce fouling of the surfaces. Also PEG’s can be hydrophilic to improve the wetting properties of treated surfaces.
The basics of Click chemistry centers on methods of attaching specific biomolecules to a substrate or probe by a process called Bio-Conjugation. Click reactions can generally be characterized with unique “spring-loaded” steric structures, a quick thermodynamic and irreversible reaction between small modular units.
A common precursor for Click chemistry is with an azide terminated surface. An Azide can be described by a resonance structure of –N=N+=N–. While there can be hazards associate with Azides like rapid decomposition, IST’s vapor deposition eliminates the special chemical handling and disposal of azides for volume manufacturing for bioconsumables.
Contact IST to learn more about the applicability of PEGylation and to see if we can provide the proper functional azide groups for your device(s).