Editing Polyethylene glycol (section)

=== Medical uses ===
{{Main|Macrogol|PEGylation}}

* Pharmaceutical-grade PEG is used as an [[excipient]] in many pharmaceutical products, in oral, topical, and parenteral dosage forms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Polyethylene Glycol as Pharmaceutical Excipient |url=https://pharma.basf.com/chemistry/polyethylene-glycols |access-date=2021-04-27 |website=pharmaceutical.basf.com |language=en}}</ref>
* PEG is the basis of a number of [[laxative]]s (as ''MiraLax, RestoraLAX, MoviPrep, etc.'').<ref name="Kean-2017" /> [[Whole bowel irrigation]] with polyethylene glycol and added [[electrolyte]]s is used for bowel preparation before [[surgery]] or [[colonoscopy]] or for children with constipation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://medicaldialogues.in/partner/jbcpl/laxolite | title=Polyethyleneglycol (PEG 4000 ) {{!}} Laxolite {{!}} Medical Dialogues | publisher=[[Medical Dialogues]] | date=19 January 2021 | access-date=19 January 2021}}</ref> [[Macrogol]] (with brand names such as Laxido, Movicol and Miralax) is the generic name for polyethylene glycol used as a laxative. The name may be followed by a number that represents the average molecular weight (e.g. macrogol 3350, macrogol 4000, or macrogol 6000).
* The possibility that PEG could be used to fuse [[axon]]s is being explored by researchers studying [[Nerve injury|peripheral nerve]] and [[spinal cord injury]].<ref name="Kean-2017"/>
*An example of PEG [[hydrogel]]s (see [[#Biological uses|Biological uses]] section) in a therapeutic has been theorized by Ma et al. They propose using the hydrogel to address [[Periodontal disease|periodontitis]] (gum disease) by encapsulating [[stem cell]]s in the gel that promote healing in the gums.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ma Y, Ji Y, Zhong T, Wan W, Yang Q, Li A, Zhang X, Lin M | display-authors = 6 | title = Bioprinting-Based PDLSC-ECM Screening for in Vivo Repair of Alveolar Bone Defect Using Cell-Laden, Injectable and Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels | journal = ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering | volume = 3 | issue = 12 | pages = 3534–3545 | date = December 2017 | pmid = 33445388 | doi = 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00601 }}</ref> The gel with encapsulated stem cells was to be injected into the site of disease and crosslinked to create the microenvironment required for the stem cells to function.
*[[PEGylation]] of [[Adenoviridae|adenoviruses]] for [[gene therapy]] can help prevent adverse reactions due to pre-existing adenovirus immunity.<ref name="Seregin-2009">{{cite journal | vauthors=Seregin SS, Amalfitano A | title=Overcoming pre-existing adenovirus immunity by genetic engineering of adenovirus-based vectors | journal=[[Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy]] | volume=9 | issue=12 | pages=1521–1531 | year=2009 | doi = 10.1517/14712590903307388 | pmid=19780714 | s2cid=21927486 }}</ref>
* A [[PEGylation|PEGylated]] lipid is used as an excipient in both the [[Moderna#COVID-19 vaccine|Moderna]] and [[Tozinameran|Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine]]s for [[SARS-CoV-2]]. Both [[RNA vaccines]] consist of [[messenger RNA]], or mRNA, encased in a bubble of oily molecules called [[lipid]]s. Proprietary lipid technology is used for each. In both vaccines, the bubbles are coated with a stabilizing molecule of polyethylene glycol.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/moderna/downloads/standing-orders.pdf |title=Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Orders for Administering Vaccine to Persons 18 Years of Age and Older |publisher=[[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) |date=11 July 2022 |access-date=23 October 2024 |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814043527/https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/moderna/downloads/standing-orders.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> PEG could trigger allergic reaction,<ref name="Cabanillas-2021">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cabanillas B, Akdis CA, Novak N | title = Allergic reactions to the first COVID-19 vaccine: A potential role of polyethylene glycol? | journal = Allergy | volume = 76 | issue = 6 | pages = 1617–1618 | date = June 2021 | pmid = 33320974 | doi = 10.1111/all.14711 | s2cid = 229284320 | doi-access = free }}</ref> and allergic reactions are the driver for both the United Kingdom and Canadian regulators to issue an advisory, noting that: two "individuals in the U.K. ... were treated and have recovered" from [[anaphylactic]] shock.<ref name="Bostock-2020">{{cite web | vauthors = Bostock N |publisher=GP |title=MHRA warning after allergic reactions in NHS staff given COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://www.gponline.com/mhra-warning-allergic-reactions-nhs-staff-given-covid-19-vaccine/article/1702322 |date=9 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209163321/https://www.gponline.com/mhra-warning-allergic-reactions-nhs-staff-given-covid-19-vaccine/article/1702322 |url-status=live |name-list-style=vanc }}</ref><ref name="HealthCanada-2020">{{cite web |title=Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: Health Canada recommendations for people with serious allergies |url=https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/74543a-eng.php |publisher=Health Canada |date=12 December 2020}}</ref> The US CDC stated that in their jurisdiction six cases of "severe allergic reaction" had been recorded from more than 250,000 vaccinations, and of those six only one person had a "history of vaccination reactions".<ref name="Furtula-2020">{{cite news | vauthors = Furtula A, Jordans F |title=EU regulator gives conditional approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-eu-regulator-gives-conditional-approval-to-pfizer-biontech-covid-19/ |agency=Reuters |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc |date=21 December 2020}}</ref>