Description
General Description
PLLA-PEG-Thiol (PLLA-PEG-SH) is a heterobifunctional biodegradable block copolymer consisting of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer, and a terminal thiol (–SH) functional group.
The PLLA block is biodegradable and hydrophobic, allowing the polymer to self-assemble into micelles, nanoparticles, and other nanostructures in aqueous environments. The PEG segment improves aqueous dispersibility, colloidal stability, and biocompatibility while providing a flexible spacer between the PLLA domain and the reactive thiol group.
The terminal thiol provides a versatile site for conjugation with maleimide-functionalized peptides, proteins, antibodies, targeting ligands, dyes, and other molecules. Thiol functionality can also be used for disulfide formation and attachment to gold and other thiol-reactive surfaces.
PLLA-PEG-SH is particularly useful for preparing functionalized biodegradable nanoparticles, targeted drug delivery systems, polymer-bioconjugates, surface coatings, and advanced biomaterials.
Applications
- Polymeric nanoparticle preparation
- Polymeric micelle formation
- Thiol-selective bioconjugation
- Maleimide-thiol conjugation
- Peptide and protein conjugation
- Targeting ligand attachment
- Nanoparticle surface functionalization
- Gold surface modification
- Targeted drug delivery
- Biomaterials research
Features and Benefits
- Biodegradable PLLA block
- Hydrophilic PEG spacer
- Terminal thiol (–SH) functionality
- Compatible with maleimide-thiol chemistry
- Suitable for disulfide formation
- Self-assembly into micelles and nanoparticles
- Tunable PLLA and PEG molecular weights
- Suitable for surface and biomolecule conjugation
