Comparison of Phase Behavior of Poly(ethylene glycol) and Linear Poly(glycerol) in Aqueous Solutions
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초록
내용
Accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon, caused by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, has highlighted the need for alternative polymers. Poly(glycerol) (PG) has emerged as a promising substitute for PEG. PG is highly biocompatible, and notably prevents the induction of the ABC phenomenon. In this study, linear PG was synthesized by ring-opening anionic polymerization of poly(ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether) and followed by hydrolysis of acetal groups to alcohol. The phase behavior of PEG and PG was investigated as a function of salt and temperature using UV-Vis transmittance. PEG exhibits clouding behavior (i.e., phase separation) at higher salt concentration and higher temperature, while PG maintains a single phase without phase separation over a wide range of salt concentration and temperature. These findings suggest that PG has higher solubility than PEG in aqueous media, and its superior hydrophilicity may offer significant advantages in drug delivery systems.