Pronunciation: [pˈɛd͡ʒɪlˌe͡ɪtɪd] (IPA) 
The word "pegylated" is spelled with a "p" followed by "e", "g", "y", "l", "a", "t", "e", and "d". The first syllable "peg" is pronounced as /pɛɡ/, with a short "e" sound and a hard "g". The second syllable "yl" is pronounced as /aɪl/, with a long "i" and a soft "l". The final syllable "ated" is pronounced as /eɪtɪd/, with a long "a" and a soft "d". Overall, the word is phonetically spelled as /pɛɡilaɪtɛd/.
Pegylation is a process in which a substance, typically a drug or protein, is chemically modified by attaching one or more polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to its molecular structure. The term "pegylated" is used to describe the resulting modified substance.
PEG is a water-soluble and biocompatible polymer that consists of repeating units of ethylene glycol. It is widely used in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to enhance the properties and performance of drugs and proteins. By attaching PEG chains to a substance, pegylation imparts unique characteristics that can improve its stability, solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy.
When a drug or protein is pegylated, the PEG chains form a protective barrier around the substance, shielding it from various factors that could degrade or inactivate it. This enhanced stability helps prolong the drug's presence in the body, allowing for a sustained release and increased circulation time. Additionally, pegylation can alter the pharmacokinetics of a substance, affecting its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
Pegylation has been utilized to improve the properties of numerous therapeutic agents, including chemotherapeutic drugs, hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. It has been particularly successful in reducing immunogenicity, increasing half-life, and improving patient compliance. Pegylated substances have revolutionized the field of drug delivery and have found applications in various medical treatments, such as cancer therapy and the management of chronic diseases.
