PEGylation

Abstract

PEGylation involves the masking of the surface of proteins and peptides by covalent coupling with soluble PEG. It is a method for optimizing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of therapeutic small drug molecules such as peptides and proteins. Thus, this chapter will focus on PEGylation as the modification of the surface properties of proteins and peptide or nonpeptide molecules via covalent attachment using a chemical modifier, PEG, either alone or in combination with other moieties. PEGylation has been exploited to increase the half life ( t 1/2 ), solubility, stability and decrease of the immunogenicity, and toxicity of enzymes, proteins, peptides, and nonpeptide molecules.