What are Lipids?
Lipids Definition
Lipids are a class of organic compounds that are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents such as alcohol or chloroform. Lipids have a high energy content and are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Steroids, phospholipids, oils and waxes are some examples of lipids. They provide several crucial functions in living things, including supplying energy, functioning as insulators and protectors, constructing cell membranes, and serving as signaling molecules. Furthermore, lipids also have a variety of uses in the creation of pharmaceuticals, including lipid-based diagnostics, formulation development, drug delivery methods, and lipid-lowering medications. Lipids are useful components in the creation of secure and efficient medications due to their special features.
Lipids Structure
Lipids are mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. They are hydrophobic or nonpolar molecules, which means they are not easily soluble in water. Lipids consist of long hydrocarbon chains, are nonpolar and repel water. They can be divided into different groups, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids. Fats and oils are composed of glycerol and fatty acids. Fatty acids are attached to glycerol molecules through ester bonds. Phospholipids have a glycerol molecule attached to two fatty acid and phosphate groups. The phosphate group makes one end of the molecule polar, while the fatty acid chain is non-polar. Steroids have a four-ring structure and include molecules such as cholesterol and hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
Fig. 1. Structure and classification of lipids.
Types of Lipids
Lipid products can be divided into several categories according to their structure and function. Some common classifications include:
- Fatty acids. Fatty acids are the building blocks of lipids and can be further classified as saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are used in the production of soaps, detergents, cosmetics and as a source of energy in the body.
- Triacylglycerols (triglycerides). Triacylglycerols are the most abundant lipids in nature and are commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats. They are the main form of energy storage in the body and are used in the food industry in cooking oils, margarines and as an ingredient in processed foods.
- Phospholipids. Phospholipids are important components of cell membranes and consist of a glycerol backbone, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group. Phospholipids are used in drug delivery systems in the pharmaceutical industry and as emulsifiers in foods.
- Steroids. Steroids are lipids with a specific four-ring structure. These include cholesterol, hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and vitamin D. Steroids have a variety of applications in medicine, including their use as anti-inflammatory agents, hormone replacement therapy, and the synthesis of vitamin D supplements.
- Waxes. Waxes are esters of long chain fatty acids and long chain alcohols. They are used in the production of candles, polishes, paints and as water repellents in cosmetic and personal care products.
Lipids Function
Lipids can be used as carriers or vehicles to deliver drugs to specific target sites in the body. Lipid-based drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, micelles, and lipid nanoparticles, can encapsulate drugs and enhance their solubility, stability, and bioavailability. These lipid-based systems can also enhance drug targeting, control release and prevent degradation. Lipids can also be utilized to generate formulations for a range of pharmaceutical dosage forms, including as oral, topically applied, and parenterally administered formulations. Lipids can serve as excipients to improve the stability, solubility, and absorption of pharmaceuticals. For instance, lipid-based formulations can improve the oral bioavailability of medications that are poorly soluble by making them more soluble and making them easier to absorb. In order to treat lipid-related disorders including hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia, medicines that target lipid metabolism are being developed using lipids. Blood cholesterol levels in the body can be controlled by lipid-lowering medications such statins, fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, etc., which lowers the risk of cardiovascular illnesses. In addition, the creation of imaging and diagnostic technologies also makes use of lipids. Medical imaging procedures including computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) employ lipid contrast agents, such as fat emulsions. These contrast chemicals make certain tissues or organs more visible, which aids in the detection and monitoring of certain disorders.
Fig. 2. Application of lipid-based nanocarriers in drug delivery (Nanomedicine. 2016, 11(22): 1743-5889).
PEG Lipid
PEG lipids are a class of lipids that contain PEG chains attached to lipid molecules. The PEG chains provide hydrophilic properties, while the lipid moiety provides lipophilic properties. PEG lipids can be used in drug delivery and gene delivery to improve the solubility, stability and bioavailability of drugs or to improve the efficiency and safety of gene therapy. They can help protect genetic material such as DNA or RNA from degradation and enhance its cellular uptake. In addition, PEG lipids can be employed to alter the surface characteristics of other materials, such as nanoparticles and microspheres. PEG chains create a hydrophilic coating that reduces immune system recognition, opsonization, and aggregation, improving biocompatibility and circulation time. PEG lipids can also be utilized to create coatings on implants or medical equipment to lessen immunological reactions, cell adhesion, and protein adsorption. This lowers the risk of infection, enhances biocompatibility, and helps avoid biofouling.
Lipid and PEG Lipid Supplier
Leading suppliers of lipid and PEG lipid supply capabilities include BOC Sciences. For a range of scientific research applications, we are dedicated to offering a complete catalog of lipids, including phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, and sterol derivatives. For the unique needs of researchers, these lipids are offered in a variety of forms, including powders, solutions, and dispersions. Our PEG lipids offer a wide range of functional groups in addition to lipids to meet the diverse demands of our clients, including Cholesterol-PEG-Acid, Cholesterol-PEG-DBCO, DSPE-PEG-Biotin, DSPE-PEG-MAL, Fluorescent PEG Lipids, mPEG Glycerides and mPEG Phospholipids. Please get in touch with us for customer service if you have any questions about our lipid or PEG lipid products.
Reference
- Costas, K. et al. Lipid-based nanocarriers for the oral administration of biopharmaceutics. Nanomedicine. 2016, 11(22): 1743-5889.
Why BOC Sciences?
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Large Stock
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Strict process parameter control to ensure product quality
Technical Support
- Aqueous Two-Phase System (ATPS) Technique
- Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) Technique
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Technique
- High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) Technique
- Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) Technique
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- Lipids
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PEG Derivatives by Functional Group
- Acrylate/Acrylamide/Methacrylate PEG
- Aldehyde (Ald/CHO)PEG
- Alkyne PEG
- Amino PEG, PEG amine(-NH2)
- Azide PEG, Azido PEG(-N3)
- Biotin PEG
- Boc/Fmoc protected amine PEG
- Carboxylic Acid(-COOH) PEG
- Cholesterol PEG
- DBCO PEG
- DSPE PEG
- Epoxide glycidyl ether PEG
- FITC PEG
- Halide (chloride, bromide) PEG
- Hydrazide PEG
- Hydroxyl(-OH) PEG
- Maleimide(-MAL) PEG
- Multi-Arm PEG
- NHS ester PEG
- Nitrophenyl carbonate (NPC) PEG
- Norbornene PEG
- Olefin/Alkene/Vinyl PEG
- Orthopyridyl disulfide (OPSS) PEG
- Phosphate PEG
- Rhodamine PEG
- SCM PEG
- Silane PEG
- Sulfonate (tosyl, mesyl, tresyl) PEG
- tert-Butyl protected carboxylate PEG
- Thiol(-SH) PEG
- Vinylsulfone PEG
- PEG Copolymers
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PEG Raw Materials
- Small-molecule Polyethylene Glycol
- Polyethylene Glycol 1000
- Polyethylene Glycol 10000
- Polyethylene Glycol 1500
- Polyethylene Glycol 200
- Polyethylene Glycol 2000
- Polyethylene Glycol 20000
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- Polyethylene Glycol 4000
- Polyethylene Glycol 600
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- Polyethylene Glycol 800
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Solutions
Resources
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Technical Information
- Aqueous Two-Phase System (ATPS) Technique
- Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) Technique
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Technique
- High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) Technique
- Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) Technique
- Introduction of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
- Ion Exchange Chromatography (IEX) Technique
- PEG for Chemical Synthesis
- PEG for Cosmetic Application
- PEG for Drug Delivery
- PEG for Imaging Diagnosis
- PEG for Pharmaceutical Preparation
- PEG for Tissue Engineering
- PEG Purification Techniques of Plasmid DNA
- PEGylated Protein Purification Techniques
- Radiolabeling Technique
- SDS-PAGE Technique
- Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) Technique
- Ultrafiltration Technique
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Industry News
- Applications of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) as Medical Devices
- FDA approved PEGylated Products
- How are Liposomes Different from Micelles?
- Liposome in Drug Delivery
- PEG Linkers in Antibody Drug Conjugates and PROTACs
- Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Modified Targeting Nanomaterials
- The PROTAC Technology in Drug Development
- What are Biotinylation and Biotinylated PEG?
- What are Lipid Nanoparticles and Their Applications?
- What are Lipids?
- What are Monodispersed and Polydispersed PEGs?
- What are Phospholipids?
- What is Click Chemistry?
- What is Hydrogel?
Our Feature
BOC Sciences supplies a unique variety of PEG derivatives and functional PEG polymers. Our products offer the most diverse collection of reactivity, ready-to-use functionality, and molecular weight options that you will not find anywhere else.

PEGylation of Peptides
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Reduce the Immunogenicity of Peptide/Protein Drugs
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PEG linkers For Drug
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