PEG-Hydrogels and Biocompatible Polymers

Over the years the group of professor Meldal has developed a large range of polymers for synthesis and biomolecular screening. The polymers are typically prepared from PEG- or PEI-macromonomers, which are used in either radical or ring-opening polymerization reactions. PEGA resins are widely used for on-resin biochemical assays, due to the stealth-like spectroscopic properties and beneficial interaction with proteins and cells.
These special properties have allowed a range of sensitive, on-bead bioassays based on fluorescence to be developed e.g. the Abz/YNO₂ FRET assay or the cells- on-beads GPCR-assay.

One of the many beneficial properties of PEG-based resins is the extraordinary high swelling potential of the resin in aqueous and apolar solvents alike, allowing first solid-phase organic synthesis and then screening of compound libraries with enzymes in aqueous buffers. Enzymes transverse throughout the polymer network and are protected by favorable interactions with the PEG-matrix.