PEGylation of Cytokines

BOC Sciences has a team of experts with extensive experience in PEGylation and cytokine modification. Our expertise ensures high quality and reliable PEGylation services with a focus on maintaining cytokine activity and minimizing side effects. The numerous advantages of our cytokine PEGylation service in terms of stability, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, solubility and customization make it a powerful tool for the development of cytokine-based therapeutics.

What Are Cytokines?

Cytokines are small proteins produced by cells of the immune system, especially white blood cells, in response to various stimuli such as infection, injury or inflammation. As signaling molecules, they play a crucial role in coordinating and modulating immune responses. Cytokines can have both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and they help mediate communication between different cells of the immune system. Some examples of cytokines include interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, and chemokines.

Fig. 1. Representing PEGylated cytokines in anticancer therapy.

Recombinant Cytokines

Recombinant cytokines are artificially produced proteins that mimic the actions of naturally occurring cytokines in the body. Recombinant cytokines are produced by inserting the genes responsible for the production of specific cytokines into a host organism, such as bacteria or yeast, through genetic engineering techniques. The host organism then produces large quantities of the desired cytokines, which can be purified and used for therapeutic purposes. These artificial cytokines have various applications in medicine, especially in the treatment of various diseases. For example, recombinant interferons are used to treat viral infections and certain cancers, while recombinant interleukins are used in immunotherapy for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The potential of recombinant cytokines to enhance immune responses and as vaccine adjuvants has also been investigated.

Our PEGylation Cytokine Services

Production and Purification of Cytokines

Cytokines are usually produced in recombinant form using genetic engineering techniques. It is then isolated and purified from host cells or culture medium. Our team of experts at BOC Sciences is equipped to provide comprehensive fermentation CDMO services to customers in need. We have the capabilities to handle fermentation processes at various scales, including laboratory scale, pilot scale, and commercial scale. Whether you require fermentation services for small-scale research and development purposes or large-scale commercial production, our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced team ensure reliable and efficient results. Additionally, we offer separation and purification services for recombinant cytokines. Our expertise in this area allows us to efficiently isolate and purify these proteins to meet the specific requirements of our customers.

PEGylated Cytokines

Cytokines are chemically modified by conjugation with PEG molecules. PEGylation involves attaching PEG chains to cytokine molecules, which contribute to their stability, half-life, and solubility. BOC Sciences offers a comprehensive and customizable solution for modifying cytokines with PEG chains. We have a team of experienced scientists who are proficient in PEG modification. Their extensive knowledge of the PEGylation of various biomolecules and their specific properties allowed them to optimize the PEGylation process for each cytokine.

Optimization of PEGylation Conditions

BOC Sciences offers services to assist clients in optimizing various factors related to cytokine PEGylation, such as PEG size, PEGylation chemistry, reaction conditions, and cytokine concentration, to achieve the desired PEGylation efficiency and biological activity of pegylated cytokines. By fine-tuning these parameters, BOC Sciences aims to help clients achieve the best results in their PEGylation projects.

Characterization of PEGylated Cytokines

Characterizing PEGylated cytokines is an important step in understanding their properties and potential applications. BOC Sciences provides comprehensive characterization services for PEGylated cytokines, including molecular weight determination, degree of PEGylation analysis, and biological activity assessment. Techniques such as mass spectrometry, gel electrophoresis, and bioassays are commonly used for characterization. These services contribute to a better understanding of the properties and potential applications of PEGylated cytokines in various fields, including drug development and biomedical research.

Formulation and Stability Testing

BOC Sciences also provides formulation and stability testing services for pegylated cytokines. The pegylated cytokines are formulated into suitable dosage forms, such as solutions or lyophilized powders. In addition, we can perform stability testing to ensure that PEGylated cytokines are stable and retain their biological activity over the desired shelf life. Our services are tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients, and we strive to deliver accurate and reliable results.

PEGylated Recombinant Cytokines We Support

• Erythropoietin (EPO)
• Interleukins (ILs): IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-15.
• Tumor Necrosis Factors (TNFs): TNF-α and TNF-β.
• Interferons (IFNs): IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ.
• Growth Factors: insulin-like growth factor (IGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
• Colony-Stimulating Factors (CSFs): granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF).

In addition to cytokine PEGylation support services, our team of experts specializes in PEGylation services for a wide range of biomolecules. Whether you need PEGylation for antibodies, lipids, nucleic acids, biotin, enzymes, peptides or proteins, we have you covered. Our services include PEGylation optimization, process development, scale-up production, and analytical characterization. We have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to ensure high-quality results.