Methyl-PEG-Thiol Compounds

Thermo Scientific Pierce MT(PEG)4, or methyl-PEG4-thiol, is a methyl- and sulfhydryl-terminated compound that contains a 4-unit polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer and is used to modify surfaces such as quantum dots, monolayers and magnetic particles.

MT(PEG)4 is monodentate thiol-terminated and methyl pegylation reagent. The PEG compound has a defined molecular weight and spacer length and is useful for modifying surfaces such quantum dots, self-assembled monolayers and magnetic particles. Functionalization of solid surfaces with polyethylene glycol spacers such as this one significantly reduces nonspecific protein binding.

Highlights:

• Metal-binding – terminal monodentate thiol reacts spontaneously with gold surfaces through dative binding
• Methyl – terminal methyl group is unreactive, the primary function of this compound being to coat quantum dot and other surfaces to reduce nonspecific binding in assays
• Polyethylene glycol – PEG groups are flexible, non-immunogenic, hydrophilic, and significantly reduce nonspecific binding of surfaces for protein methods
• Spacer arm – four-unit PEG spacer makes compound nearly 16 angstroms long

Specifications:

• Alternative name: Methyl-PEG4-Thiol
• Chemical name: 2,5,8,11-tetraoxatridecane-13-thiol
• Chemical formula: C9H20O4S
• Molecular weight: 224.32
• Spacer arm: 15.8 angstroms
• Form: clear colorless to light yellow liquid
• Solubility: dissolve in DMSO or DMF for use

Product Details:

The use of MT(PEG)4 with CT(PEG)12 in surface modification can form a hydrophilic “lawn” of methyl ether-terminated PEGs with periodic exposed carboxylic acid-containing PEGs. The exposed carboxylic acid groups can be coupled to affinity ligands using the carbodiimide coupling reaction with EDC and sulfo-NHS.

Modification of metal surfaces with Thermo Scientific MT(PEG)4 and CT(PEG)12 pegylation reagents.

General References:

1. Prime, K.L. and Whitesides, G.M. (1991). Self-assembled organic monolayers: model systems for studying absorption of proteins at surfaces. Science 252:1164.
2. Bentzen, E.L., et al. (2005). Surface modification to reduce non-specific binding of quantum dots in live cell assays. Bioconjugate Chem 16:1488-94.
3. Lin, P-C., et al. (2006). Ethylene glycol-protected magnetic nanoparticles for a multiplexed immunoassay in human plasma. Small 2(4):485-9.
4. Zheng, M., et al. (2003). Ethylene glycol monolayer protected nanoparticles for eliminating nonspecific binding with biological molecules. J Am Chem Soc 125:7790-1.
5. Verma, A. and Rotello, V.M. (2005). Surface recognition of biomacromolecules using nanoparticle receptors. Chem Commun 3:303-12.
6. Kidambi, S., et al. (2004). Selective depositions on polyelectrolyte multilayers: self-assembled monolayers of m-dPEG acid as molecular template. J Am Chem Soc 126:4697-03.

Related Resources:

Guide to PEGylation – links to different kinds of polyethylene glycol reagents

Related Products:

EDC
Sulfo-NHS
Other PEGylation Reagents