The covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) or PEGylation has proven to be a successful strategy for enhancing the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of therapeutic formulations and compounds, exemplified by the achievements of COVID-19 vaccine formulations. This success serves as a blueprint for developing other biocompatible polymers that offer opportunities for fine-tuning pharmacokinetics and dynamics or address PEG-associated concerns. However, to ensure their successful pharmaceutical application, these polymers must adhere to strict quality standards. In this research, we shed light on the challenges involved in developing high-quality poly(2-oxazoline)s and poly(sarcosine)s. We demonstrate the value and limitations of traditional polymer characterization techniques, such as NMR, SEC, and MALDI-TOF-MS, and advocate for the inclusion of additional chromatographic techniques to overcome these limitations. By doing so, we aim to pave the way for more effective and reliable biocompatible polymer formulations with enhanced properties for pharmaceutical applications.

Speaker: Dr. Joachim Van Guyse – LACDR