Poly(M(EO)2MA:Poly(OEGMA) - (90:10), aldehyde functionalized, 25 wt% solution in water

Cat. No.: P462865

GRADE & PURITY (90:10), aldehyde functionalized, 25 wt% solution in water

Synonyms

PEGMA-co-POEGMA

Storage

Store at 2-8°C

Shipped In

Wet ice

Overview

Description

Poly(diethylene glycol methacrylate)-co-(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate), (PM(EO)2MA-co-OEGMA) is a comb-shaped, graft copolymer consisting of hydrophilic oligomer polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains grafted to a hydrophobic polymethacrylate backbone. In this material, the PEG chains are either diethylene glycol units or oligomer PEG (n=8-9) units. Resulting material properties can be tuned by controlling the ratio of each component. POEGMA has been suggested as a viable alternative to PEG in biological and biomaterial applications. POEGMA has been reported to improve pharmacokinetic properties of protein and peptide conjugates, enhance the stability and gene silencing efficiency of siRNAs, as an anti-fouling surface for biosensors, and eliminate PEG antigenicity.In addition to use in biomolecule-polymer conjugates, PEOGMA has also seen wide spread use in tissue engineering applications, such as hydrogel synthesis. Aldehyde-functionalized PM(EO)2MA-co-OEGMA can be readily used with the corresponding hydrazide-functionalized POEGMA or PM(EO)2MA-co-OEGMA for rapid gelation via reversible hydrazone bond formation. Due to the reversibility of the bond formation and the low viscosity of the precursors, resulting hydrogels can be used as injectable tissue engineering matrices, local drug delivery vehicles for small molecules, or as joint lubricants. In addition, the physical properties of the resulting hydrogels, such as LCST, gelation rates, swelling kinetics, degredation kinetics, and mechanical properties, can all be readily controlled by solution concentration and the ratios of each solution.

Preparation instructions

This product is provided as a 25 wt%solution in water, ready to be diluted for your specific application. Please see the technical bulletin on the product page for dilution instructions and hydrogel preparation instructions.

Specifications

Synonyms

PEGMA-co-POEGMA

Specifications & Purity

(90:10), aldehyde functionalized, 25 wt% solution in water

Storage

Store at 2-8°C

Shipped In

Wet ice

This product requires cold chain shipping. Ground and other economy services are not available.

Application Protocols

No vendor-tested bioassay protocols are provided for this item. The following general, literature-informed workflows can assist in getting started (adjust to your system):

• Preparing clear aqueous solutions

  • Add polymer gradually to cold or room-temperature DI water below the expected LCST while stirring.
  • Typical working concentrations: 1–100 mg/mL depending on viscosity. Filter through 0.22 µm to remove particulates.

• Measuring thermoresponsive behavior (turbidimetry)

  • Prepare 5 mg/mL in water; record transmittance at 600 nm while ramping 0.5 °C/min. Report cloud point at 50% transmittance. Repeat with 0.15 M NaCl to assess salt effects.

• Coating glass/silica (spin-casting)

  • Clean substrates (piranha or plasma), rinse with water/ethanol, dry.
  • Spin-cast 1–2 wt% polymer in ethanol at 2000 rpm for 60 s; dry ≤50 °C. Optional: post-treat with UV-ozone to enhance wettability; for durability, use a silane primer or crosslinker in formulation.

These are general suggestions from the literature and are not validated protocols for this specific catalog item.

Biological Roles

This product is a synthetic polymer for materials science and does not have inherent biological roles. It is supplied for research use only.

• General (literature context)
  • PEG-methacrylate copolymers are commonly used to create protein-resistant, nonionic surfaces and to engineer thermo-responsive behaviors near physiological temperatures. They can reduce nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules in vitro and are investigated as surface modifiers for biointerfaces and diagnostic devices.
  • Any biological interactions (e.g., reduced protein fouling) arise from physical properties such as hydration and steric repulsion rather than specific biochemical activity or receptor binding.

No clinical or therapeutic claims are made or implied for this item.

Buffer Applications

Not a buffering reagent. Poly(M(EO)2MA:Poly(OEGMA) does not establish pH or provide buffering capacity.

• Practical note (literature)
  • When used in biological media, dissolve in pre-made buffers (e.g., PBS, HEPES) below the polymer’s cloud point to maintain clarity. Ionic strength and kosmotropic/chaotropic salts can shift LCST and aggregation behavior; verify conditions experimentally.

Green Alternatives

Although this entry is a polymeric material rather than a solvent or reagent, greener choices can be made in its processing and in selecting alternatives for a given function.

• Greener processing choices (literature)

  • Prefer water or ethanol/IPA over DMF/DMSO for dissolution and film formation when feasible.
  • Use aqueous SEC with salt modifiers instead of DMF for macromolecular analysis when compatible.
  • Low-temperature processing (below LCST) reduces energy input; avoid high-temperature drying.

• Functional alternatives (comparison, literature)

  • Poly(2-oxazoline)s: Similar hydrophilicity/antifouling, often synthesized in greener solvents; different thermal profiles.
  • PNIPAM (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)): Widely used thermoresponsive polymer but less hydrophilic in the coil state and may show more hysteresis; PEG-methacrylates can offer improved biocompatibility perception.
  • PEG and PEG-diacrylates: Simpler chemistry for hydrogel networks; lack tunable LCST unless copolymerized.

Trade-offs

• Water/ethanol improve EHS profile but may alter film morphology and LCST compared to aprotic solvents.
• Alternative polymers may require different synthesis routes and can change mechanical and thermal behavior.

These are general sustainability considerations; specific EHS gains depend on your process and performance targets.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No pharmacopeial status or excipient grade is specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. This product is for research use only.

• General materials roles in formulation research (literature)
  • Investigational use as a hydrophilic coating for devices or particles to reduce nonspecific interactions.
  • Experimental thermo-responsive carriers or depots in pre-formulation studies where temperature-triggered solubility/swell changes are of interest.
  • Stabilizing polymer for colloids and protein formulations in vitro through steric repulsion (composition- and MW-dependent).

All uses must be evaluated by the researcher; this listing makes no claims regarding safety or suitability for human or veterinary use.

Physical Properties

• Item-specific data

  • Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight (Mn/Mw/PDI): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Density, refractive index, glass transition (Tg), LCST/cloud point: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• General/literature expectations for MEO2MA/OEGMA copolymers (guidance only)

  • Physical state: Typically solid (powder or flakes) at ambient conditions; forms clear aqueous solutions below LCST when sufficiently OEGMA-rich.
  • Solubility: Highly soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and many polar aprotic solvents (DMF, DMSO); insoluble in nonpolar alkanes (literature).
  • Thermoresponsiveness: Poly(MEO2MA) is LCST-type with cloud point ~26 °C; copolymerization with OEGMA raises LCST tunably to ~30–90 °C depending on composition and EO length (literature).
  • Tg: Polymethacrylates with PEG side chains typically exhibit Tg in the sub-ambient to ~−20 to +25 °C range, varying with side-chain length and Mn (literature).
  • Hydrophilicity: Nonionic, strong hydrogen-bond acceptor; demonstrates protein resistance and low nonspecific adsorption (literature).

Note: Numeric values above are typical literature ranges for similar compositions and are NOT specifications for this catalog item.

Quality & Grades

• Item-specific quality information

  • Grade/Purity: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Composition (mole % MEO2MA:OEGMA), Mn/Mw/PDI, residual monomer/solvent, and ash/metals: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• How to interpret grades for polymer reagents (general guidance)

  • Research grade polymers are typically provided with macromolecular characterization (e.g., GPC/SEC for Mn, Mw, Ð; 1H NMR for composition; residual monomer by GC/LC). If “low dispersity” or “controlled” is indicated, expect narrower PDI (Ð ~1.1–1.3; literature), but verify on the CoA.
  • For materials science and biointerface work, trace impurities (unreacted monomer, inhibitors) can affect LCST, cytocompatibility, and surface fouling. Consider additional purification (dialysis/precipitation) if your application is sensitive.
  • Stabilizers/inhibitors: Methacrylate-derived polymers generally do not require added polymerization inhibitors; however, antioxidants may be present in some grades. This item does not specify use of stabilizers—check CoA/SDS.

• Recommended QC on receipt (practical tips)

  • Verify Mn/Mw by SEC in DMF/LiBr or aqueous SEC (depending on solubility) against PEG or PMMA calibration; confirm composition by 1H NMR in D2O or CDCl3.
  • Measure cloud point (if thermoresponsiveness is critical) by UV–vis turbidity or DLS to ensure batch-to-batch consistency.

Reaction & Applications

As a functional materials polymer, Poly(M(EO)2MA:Poly(OEGMA) is used primarily for surface modification and stimuli-responsive systems rather than as a small-molecule reagent.

• Representative research applications (literature)

  • Thermoresponsive systems: Tailorable LCST behavior for controlled aggregation, micellization, and separations (e.g., capture/release around physiological temperatures by varying MEO2MA:OEGMA ratio).
  • Antifouling/stealth coatings: Low-protein adsorption layers on metals, oxides, and polymers; spin-cast or grafted coatings reduce biofouling.
  • Hydrogel formation: Crosslinkable formulations (via added diacrylates or co-monomers) yield soft hydrogels with temperature-modulated swelling.
  • Nanoparticle stabilization: Steric stabilization of inorganic nanoparticles (Au, SiO2, Fe3O4) and polymeric micelles in aqueous media.

• Practical tips

  • Control solution temperature relative to cloud point to maintain clarity during processing or to trigger phase transitions intentionally.
  • Filter solutions (0.22–0.45 µm) to remove dust that seeds premature turbidity measurements.
  • For surface coatings, substrate activation (plasma/UV-ozone) improves wetting and adhesion; silane primers on silica/glass can enhance robustness.
  • If end-group functionality is present from synthesis (e.g., halide from ATRP, thiocarbonylthio from RAFT; not specified for this item), it can be leveraged for post-polymer modification or grafting.

All application notes above are general literature guidance and not specifications for this item.

Reaction Conditions

No polymerization or reaction conditions are specified for this catalog item. The following are general literature guidelines relevant to handling and characterizing solutions or to synthesizing related copolymers (for context only).

• Solution handling (literature)

  • Dissolution: Add polymer slowly to stirred solvent (water, ethanol, or DMSO). Gentle warming (e.g., 25–35 °C) may speed dissolution but avoid exceeding anticipated LCST to prevent turbidity.
  • Cloud point measurement: 1–10 mg/mL in water; ramp 0.2–1.0 °C/min while monitoring optical transmittance at 500–700 nm.

• Synthesis of related copolymers (context only; not instructions for this product)

  • ATRP/RAFT in protic/aprotic media (MeOH, IPA, DMF, DMSO, water) at 20–70 °C can yield controlled MEO2MA/OEGMA copolymers with Ð ~1.1–1.3 (literature). Catalyst/initiator and targeting of composition determine LCST and Mn.

• Film/coating preparation (literature)

  • Spin coating: 0.5–5 wt% in ethanol or DMF; 1000–3000 rpm; bake ≤50–60 °C to remove solvent.
  • Dip/rinse antifouling layers: Rinse with water below LCST; cure conditions depend on added crosslinkers or primers.

All values here are general literature guidance and NOT specifications for this item.

Safety & Handling

• GHS information for this item

  • Signal word: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
  • Hazard statements, pictograms, classification: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.

• General handling guidance (poly(PEG)-methacrylate copolymers; literature/best practice)

  • Avoid creating dust/aerosols; handle powders in a fume hood or ventilated enclosure.
  • Wear appropriate PPE: lab coat, safety glasses, and nitrile gloves. For solution handling, splash protection as appropriate.
  • Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers may degrade PEG segments; strong acids/bases and elevated temperatures can catalyze ester hydrolysis of the backbone side-chain ester linkages.
  • Thermal behavior: Prolonged heating can cause depolymerization or oxidative discoloration; avoid drying above ~60–80 °C unless validated for your material (general guidance).
  • First aid (overview; defer to SDS): If inhaled—move to fresh air; if on skin—wash with soap and water; if in eyes—rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; if ingested—rinse mouth and seek medical advice. Provide SDS to medical personnel.
  • Environmental: Generally regarded as low acute aquatic toxicity for high-MW PEG-like polymers, but avoid release to the environment; collect waste according to local regulations.

Always consult the product-specific SDS for authoritative safety, exposure limits, disposal, and spill response instructions.

Solvent Selection

This copolymer is nonionic and highly polar due to PEG-based side chains, favoring protic/polar media.

• Miscibility/solubility profile (literature)

  • Water: Typically freely soluble below its LCST; phase-separates above LCST for thermoresponsive compositions.
  • Alcohols: Soluble in methanol, ethanol, isopropanol.
  • Polar aprotic: Soluble in DMSO and DMF; DMF often used for SEC or film casting.
  • Nonpolar solvents (hexane, toluene): Poorly soluble.

• Selection guidance by application

  • Aqueous applications: Use DI water or buffered saline; adjust ionic strength and temperature to control aggregation near LCST.
  • Coating/film formation: Ethanol/IPA or water/ethanol blends enable rapid drying with low toxicity; DMF gives smooth films but is less green.
  • SEC/GPC: DMF (0.05–0.1 M LiBr) or aqueous buffers (0.1 M NaNO3) minimize aggregation with PEG-like polymers.

• Quick comparison (literature)

  • Water: Greenest, supports thermoresponsive studies; may require filtration (0.22 µm) to remove bubbles/particululates.
  • Ethanol/IPA: Fast drying, good wetting on many substrates.
  • DMSO/DMF: Highest solvency for high-MW samples; consider difficult removal and safety.

Note: Solvent choice can shift observed LCST/cloud point; salts and cosolvents generally depress LCST for PEG-methacrylates.

Storage & Reconstitution

• Storage conditions (item-specific)

  • Store at 2–8 °C.
  • Shipped on wet ice.

• Stability notes

  • Protect from prolonged heat and direct sunlight. Avoid repeated warming/cooling cycles near a thermoresponsive cloud point, which may induce aggregation over time.
  • Keep container tightly closed to prevent moisture gain or contamination. For long-term storage of solutions, refrigeration (2–8 °C) is recommended; assess bioburden and consider sterile filtration if needed for sensitive work.

• Reconstitution/preparation (general guidance)

  • Solvents: DI water, alcohols (EtOH/IPA), or polar aprotics (DMSO/DMF) as compatible with your application.
  • Procedure: Add polymer portion-wise to the chosen solvent with moderate stirring. Gentle warming (≤35 °C) may aid dissolution; do not exceed temperatures that trigger phase separation for thermoresponsive compositions.
  • Recommended filtration: 0.22 µm for aqueous solutions; 0.45 µm for viscous organic solutions.
  • Working concentrations: Typically 1–100 mg/mL depending on viscosity and end use (coatings, hydrogels, turbidity studies).

• Shelf life

  • Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

For research use only.

Structure & Identity

Poly(M(EO)2MA:Poly(OEGMA) refers to a copolymer comprising two poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-derived segments: repeat units from diethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (commonly abbreviated MEO2MA or M(EO)2MA) and from oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA). It is typically a random or block copolymer of hydrophilic, PEGylated methacrylate side chains.

• Item-specific identifiers
  • CAS: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular formula: Not applicable to polymers (repeat-unit based); overall composition not specified for this item.
  • Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • SMILES/InChI/InChIKey: Not typically defined for macromolecular copolymers; not specified for this item.
• Structural features (general, literature)
  • Backbone: Carbon–carbon saturated polymethacrylate chain.
  • Side chains: Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) oligomers capped with methoxy termini; one unit corresponds to ~2 EO repeat units (MEO2MA), the other to longer EO oligomers (OEGMA; e.g., EO~8–45 in literature variants).
  • Functional groups: Ester linkages (methacrylate), ether oxygens along PEG side chains; typically nonionic, neutral at physiological pH.
  • Architecture: Can be random, gradient, or block depending on synthesis (ATRP/RAFT/SFRP, literature). Specific architecture for this item is not specified.
• 2D description in words
  • A polymethacrylate main chain bearing pendant PEG chains of two lengths: shorter diethylene glycol methyl ether pendants interspersed with longer oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether pendants, yielding a hydrophilic, protein-resistant surface character.

Synthetic Utility

This item is a finished copolymer used as a materials component rather than a small-molecule building block.

• Functional features relevant to synthesis/processing (literature)

  • Pendant PEG ethers confer strong hydrophilicity and antifouling character, enabling aqueous-phase assembly, micellization, and surface passivation.
  • The methacrylate backbone contains ester groups susceptible to hydrolysis under strong acid/base at elevated temperature—relevant for chemical modifications and stability.
  • If prepared by controlled radical polymerization (e.g., ATRP or RAFT; not specified for this item), chain-end groups may be leveraged for conjugation or further block extension.
  • Crosslinking strategies typically rely on co-formulation with diacrylate/diacrylamide crosslinkers or incorporation of a small fraction of functional comonomers bearing reactive handles (e.g., NHS-esters, azides, alkynes) in custom syntheses.

• Retrosynthetic perspective (literature)

  • Constructed from methacrylate monomers MEO2MA and OEGMA; the ratio and EO length determine LCST, solubility, and mechanical properties. Post-polymer modification is limited by methoxy-capped PEG side chains unless functional comonomers or end-group chemistries are available.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is a synthetic polymer, not an antibody, probe, or affinity reagent. No target, epitope, clone, or species reactivity applies to this item.