An Expansion on Protein PEGylation for cancer therapeutics: from Bench to Bedside

Abstract

PEGylation is a biochemical modification of biomolecules using polyethylene glycol (PEG) that confers several desirable properties to the modified biomolecule. It has been shown to improve stability, solubility, increase half-life and reduce immunogenicity of biological molecules like proteins, enzymes and nanomolecules. PEGylation then is a good means for possibly improving drug therapeutics. The process of PEGylation is complex and has undergone many changes and improvements. The first chapter of this thesis is a review article I published with a cancer research lab. It explored the first- and second-generation methods of PEGylation including the chemistry, synthesis, benefits, and pitfalls of PEGylation. It also listed some of the marketed PEGylated therapeutics in use at the time. The second chapter is an expansion of that review article almost three years later. It explores the third generation of PEGylation, the efficacy and current use of the therapeutics listed in the first chapter and explores the possible future of PEGylation.