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Nanomaterials
Volume 15
Issue 23
10.3390/nano15231762
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

The Ubiquitous Use of Polyethylene Glycol in Pharmaceutical Design and Development: Technological Aspects and Future Perspectives

by
Iliana Christoforou
1,†,
Anastasios Kalatzis
1,†,
Angeliki Siamidi
1,
Marilena Vlachou
1,
Stergios Pispas
2 and
Natassa Pippa
1,*
1
Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
2
Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(23), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231762
Submission received: 2 October 2025 / Revised: 8 November 2025 / Accepted: 21 November 2025 / Published: 24 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanosomes in Precision Nanomedicine (Second Edition))
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Abstract

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been extensively utilized in drug formulations due to its multifunctional properties, i.e., hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. The roles played by PEG (as a drug delivery carrier and a solubilizer) improve the dissolution profile of several active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), leading to an improved absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profile. Moreover, PEG aids in upgrading the existing mechanical properties (as a binding agent, a plasticizer, etc.). Furthermore, PEG, due to its unique ability to provide “stealth” properties, is a valuable tool in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. Exploiting physicochemical variables, PEG acts as a coating/conjugation component of nanocarriers for ameliorating permeability and enhancing in vivo circulation without clearance by the body’s immune system. Additionally, PEG’s presence at the target site decreases external interactions and enhances the pharmacological attributes in terms of loading efficiency and controlled release. Nevertheless, cases of hypersensitivity or allergy, as well as anaphylactic shocks and allergic reactions, have been detected. The topic of this article is the exploitation of PEG’s physicochemical properties in the study of drug delivery, focusing on solid dosage forms and nanovesicles, along with the evaluation of its contribution to the fabrication of safe delivery and theragnostic systems.
Keywords: PEG; drug delivery; active pharmaceutical ingredient; solid dosage forms; nanocarriers; hydrophilicity; drug release PEG; drug delivery; active pharmaceutical ingredient; solid dosage forms; nanocarriers; hydrophilicity; drug release
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MDPI and ACS Style

Christoforou, I.; Kalatzis, A.; Siamidi, A.; Vlachou, M.; Pispas, S.; Pippa, N. The Ubiquitous Use of Polyethylene Glycol in Pharmaceutical Design and Development: Technological Aspects and Future Perspectives. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 1762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231762

AMA Style

Christoforou I, Kalatzis A, Siamidi A, Vlachou M, Pispas S, Pippa N. The Ubiquitous Use of Polyethylene Glycol in Pharmaceutical Design and Development: Technological Aspects and Future Perspectives. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(23):1762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231762

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christoforou, Iliana, Anastasios Kalatzis, Angeliki Siamidi, Marilena Vlachou, Stergios Pispas, and Natassa Pippa. 2025. "The Ubiquitous Use of Polyethylene Glycol in Pharmaceutical Design and Development: Technological Aspects and Future Perspectives" Nanomaterials 15, no. 23: 1762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231762

APA Style

Christoforou, I., Kalatzis, A., Siamidi, A., Vlachou, M., Pispas, S., & Pippa, N. (2025). The Ubiquitous Use of Polyethylene Glycol in Pharmaceutical Design and Development: Technological Aspects and Future Perspectives. Nanomaterials, 15(23), 1762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231762

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