mPEG-bALD (methoxy polyethylene glycol butyraldehyde) is a monofunctional agglomerated ethylene glycol (PEG) derivative and is widely used in fields such as biomedical research, drug delivery systems, protein modification, and the development of nanomaterials. The following is a detailed introduction about this compound:


1. Basic characteristics

Name: Monomethoxy polyethylene glycol butyraldehyde, mPEG-Butyraldehyde

Abbreviation: mPEG-bALD

Properties: White solid or powder (may be semi-solid when the molecular weight is high)

Molecular weight range: 350 Da to 40,000 Da. Common specifications include 1K, 2K, 5K, 10K, 20K, etc.

Solubility: Soluble in water and most organic solvents.


2. Chemical structure and reaction characteristics

The structure of mPEG-bALD consists of a PEG chain terminated by a methoxy group and a butyl aldehyde group (-CHO) at the end. Its reaction characteristics include:

Selective modification: In the presence of a reducing agent (such as sodium cyanoborohydride), the buturonide group can undergo a reductive amination reaction with the N-terminal amino group of proteins or peptides, forming a stable secondary amine bond.

Mild reaction conditions: The optimal pH range is 6-9.5 (can be extended to 5-10), and the reaction time is usually 6-24 hours.

High specificity: Compared with NHS ester PEG derivatives, mPEG-bALD has higher selectivity for N-terminal amino groups and reduces side reactions.


3. Main Applications

Protein PEGylation:

It is used for N-terminal specific modification to maintain the activity and structural stability of proteins.

Increase the half-life and biocompatibility of drugs and reduce immunogenicity.

Drug delivery system

It is used to construct PEG nanoparticles, liposomes or polymer micelles to enhance the solubility and targeting of drugs.

Immobilized enzyme technology

The immobilization of enzymes is achieved through the reaction of aldehyde groups with amino groups on the surface of the carrier.

Materials Science

It is used for surface modification to improve the biocompatibility and anti-protein adsorption performance of materials.