Pegylation is the process of covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer chains to another molecule, normally a drug or therapeutic peptide or protein. Pegylation is routinely achieved by incubation of a reactive derivative of PEG with the target macromolecule.
The covalent attachment of PEG to a drug or therapeutic peptide or protein can “mask” the agent from the host’s immune system (reduced immunogenicity and antigenicity), increase the hydrodynamic size (size in solution) of the agent which prolongs its circulatory time by reducing renal clearance. Pegylation can also provide water solubility to hydrophobic drugs and peptide synthesis or proteins.
