Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an inexpensive, commercially available polymer that has many biomedical and material applications. Due to its water-solubility and biocompatibility, it has also been used widely to conjugate to drugs and proteins for improve their solubility and blood circulation times. Although ether links are generally considered robust, PEG is still susceptible to oxidation and acidic degradation. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry has been employed to study the mechanism of degradation of PEG as well as elucidate any difference in degradation with regard to end group modification. In addition to confirming proposed mechanisms of degradation, this study clarifies the role that end groups might play in accelerating, or retarding, degradation.

Elucidating end group effects on the degradation of linear polyethylene glycol using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry

255th National Meeting (2018)

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