Preface
GLYCOL) (or PEG) is widely used in several areas of medicine and biological science. This book presents recent developments of these applications and the related chemistry. The book was developed from a symposium presented at the 213th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, sponsored by the A C S Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc., in San Francisco, C A , April 13-17, 1997. The symposium was chaired by Milton Harris and David Grainger. Most of the contributors to this volume were participants in the symposium.
POLY(ETHYLENE
During the past two decades, an increasing number of P E G applications have required covalent attachment of the polymer to a wide range of substrates, including low-molecular-weight drugs, affinity ligands, proteins, oligonucleotides, and the surfaces of biomaterials and particles such as liposomes and polystyrene latex. In this book, we have attempted to give appropriate emphasis to these contemporary areas of P E G applications, covering them as broadly as possible within the scope of a single edited volume. Several PEG-based technologies have now appeared as commercial therapeutic, research, and diagnostic products. Examples include PEG-modified proteins and liposomes and PEG-grafted materials for use in medical and analytical devices. Research in these and related P E G applications is escalating, and is driven primarily by the many useful properties of the polymer. This trend is certain to continue, in part because of the extensive experience we now have with P E G , and in part because there are limited alternatives to P E G as a biomaterial. The current book is truly an interdisciplinary work. The contributors and potential readers include polymer, physical, and organic chemists, biochemists, physicians, bioengineers, and separations, pharmaceutical and material scientists. We anticipate that the many professionals who are currently using P E G in their work and those who are contemplating use of P E G will find this volume beneficial. Most of the chapters are written in the form of short reviews and as such provide a useful tool for new and potential users of P E G derivatives. It w i l l be very rewarding for those of us who have contributed to this volume i f it can serve as a catalyst to kindle new ideas and applications.
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The editors appreciate all the contributors through whose efforts this volume became possible. We wish all of you continued success and productivity. SAMUEL ZALIPSKY SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 960 Hamilton Court Menlo Park, CA 94025 J. MILTON HARRIS Department of Chemistry Materials Science Program The University of Alabama at Huntsville Huntsville, A L 35899 August 5, 1997
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