Polyethylene glycol (PEG): A versatile polymer for pharmaceutical applications
Abstract
Introduction Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polymer of choice in drug delivery systems. This USFDA-approved polymer is popular due to its tunable properties and well-established safety profile: prime requisites considered during the selection of any excipient in formulation development. Areas covered The unique properties and applications of PEG have been discussed at length in the existing literature. However, a proper guidance on selection of PEG grade to cater to one's purpose is lacking. This article provides preliminary guidelines to formulators on selection of appropriate PEG grade, typically based on its physico-chemical properties and role-based functional application in pharmaceuticals. It should be noted that the aim article is not to deep dive in each application area. Expert opinion Guidance on PEG application and grade of choice is lacking in the available literature. The authors have discussed and provided guidance to formulators on the appropriate PEG grade selection for particular application based on the available in vitro and in vivo literature data. In this review a State-of-the-art use of PEG in therapeutic applications, its clinical status and commercial use is also summarized. Nevertheless, toxicities related to different PEG grades and related impurities are discussed in this review.
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PEG's inert and elastic properties allow creation of thin, flexible sheets that conform to tissue surfaces while maintaining a hydrated, non-adhesive interface.
“For film-based barriers, PEG’s inert and elastic properties allow for the creation of thin, flexible sheets that can conform to tissue surfaces while maintaining a hydrated, non-adhesive interface [216].”
From Biomaterials in Postoperative Adhesion Barriers and Uterine Tissue Engineering (2025) · cites this paper as [216]
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- Authors
- D’souza, A. A., & Shegokar, R.
- Affiliations
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IN)
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Shegokar, Ranjita
- Venue
- Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-05-17
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1257-1275
- ISSN
- 1742-5247 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-7593
- OpenAlex
- W2343332765
- Cited by
- 1,282
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 150 · 2025: 251 · 2024: 193 · 2023: 189 · 2022: 145 · 2021: 151 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 15
- FWCI
- 2.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DSpace (IIT Bombay) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Drug Solubulity and Delivery Systems
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Keywords
- polyethylene glycol, pharmaceutical excipients, drug delivery systems
- MeSH terms
- Chemistry, Pharmaceutical, Polyethylene Glycols, Polymers, Drug Delivery Systems
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