Description
General Description
Folate-PEG-COOH is a multifunctional PEG linker designed for receptor-mediated targeting and bioconjugation applications. Folic acid exhibits high affinity for folate receptors, which are overexpressed on numerous cancer cells including ovarian, breast, lung, kidney, colorectal, and cervical cancers. This receptor-mediated uptake pathway makes folate one of the most widely used targeting ligands in nanomedicine and targeted therapeutics.
The hydrophilic PEG spacer improves aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, flexibility, and reduces nonspecific interactions. The terminal carboxylic acid group can be activated using EDC/NHS chemistry for conjugation with proteins, peptides, antibodies, nanoparticles, fluorophores, polymers, and other amine-containing molecules through stable amide bond formation.
Folate-PEG-COOH is frequently employed in targeted nanoparticle development, liposome functionalization, imaging probe preparation, molecular diagnostics, and cancer-targeted drug delivery systems.
Applications
- Targeted drug delivery
- Cancer-targeting nanoparticles
- Liposome functionalization
- Protein conjugation
- Antibody conjugation
- Peptide conjugation
- Molecular imaging
- Molecular diagnostics
- Surface modification
- Nanomedicine research
Features and Benefits
- Folate receptor targeting ligand
- Reactive carboxylic acid functionality
- Compatible with EDC/NHS coupling chemistry
- Receptor-mediated cellular uptake
- Hydrophilic PEG spacer
- Excellent water solubility
- Improved biocompatibility
- Reduced nonspecific adsorption
- Suitable for nanoparticle functionalization
