Water soluble activated polymers containing an active ethyl sulfone moiety for modification of surfaces and molecules
AssigneeShearwater Corporation
InventorJ. Milton Harris
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Abstract
Water soluble activated polymers are provided containing an active ethyl sulfone moiety having a reactive site located at the second carbon from the sulfone group. In an embodiment, a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivative is disclosed that is activated with the active ethyl sulfone moiety for selective attachment to thiol moieties on molecules and surfaces. The activated PEG is water soluble, hydrolytically stable for extended periods, and forms hydrolytically stable linkages with thiol moieties. The linkages generally are not reversible in reducing environments. The PEG derivative is useful for modifying the characteristics of substances including modifying biologically active molecules and surfaces for biocompatibility.
Claims29
A water soluble activated polymer that is stable against hydrolysis, said activated polymer having at least one active ethyl sulfone moiety having a reactive site located at the second carbon from the sulfone group, and wherein said activated polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(alkylene oxides), poly(oxyethylated polyols), and poly(olefinic alcohols).
A water soluble activated polymer that is stable against hydrolysis, said activated polymer having the formula:
- R—CH2CH2—(OCH2CH2)n—SO2—CH2—CH2—X
- wherein X is halogen, n is from about 5 to 3,000, and R is a capping group or a leaving group that can be the same or different from X.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.