Role of polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers: trends in antibody conjugation and their pharmacokinetics

Role of polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers: trends in antibody conjugation and their pharmacokinetics

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been the most commonly used polymer for the past few decades in the field of biomedical applications due to its gold standard stealth effect. PEGylation of antibody-drug conjugates, liposomes, peptides, nanoparticles, and proteins is done to improve their pharmaceutical efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties. PEGylation of antibodies with various PEG linkers improves targeting ability by increasing the blood circulation time and thus enhances the biodistribution profiles. It also assists in minimizing the immediate capture by the reticuloendothelial system. In this review, we summarize the effect of PEG linkers in an antibody conjugation and their pharmacokinetics in the field of biomedical imaging.