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Chemical Name: 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (2000) Maleimide
Common Synonyms: DSPE-PEG(2000) Maleimide
Appearance: White or off-white powder
Intended Uses: Found in pharmaceutical research, drug delivery systems, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering. DSPE-PEG conjugates help create stable liposomes and nanoparticles with long-circulating properties, which plays a role in targeted delivery of therapeutics, vaccines, and imaging agents.
Health Hazards: Inhalation may irritate the respiratory tract. Dust contact with skin or eyes can cause mild irritation. Prolonged or repeated exposure increases the chance of redness or discomfort, but acute toxic effects from this class of compounds are rarely observed outside the lab.
Environmental Hazards: This chemical can persist in the environment if released in significant quantities, potentially affecting aquatic organisms.
Physical Hazards: Fine particulate presents a low dust explosion risk under certain confinement and ignition, but unlikely in daily handling. No significant vapor hazards due to low volatility.
Precautionary Statements: Practice good laboratory hygiene. Wear gloves, goggles, and a dust mask to minimize exposure. Wash hands and face thoroughly after use.
Main Component: DSPE conjugated with PEG(2000)-maleimide functional group
General Formula: C108H215N3O33P (for DSPE base molecule; PEG and maleimide moiety alter the empirical formula)
Purity: Research-grade materials usually exceed 95% purity
Impurities: Traces of freed polyethylene glycol or unconjugated DSPE, which rarely reach significant concentration if proper synthesis checks are used
Other Additives: None detected in standard preparations targeting preclinical research use
Inhalation: Move to fresh air. Coughing or mild discomfort will usually subside; medical evaluation is appropriate if more serious reactions occur.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to remove. Persistent discomfort calls for medical consultation.
Skin Contact: Wash off immediately with soap and water. Remove any contaminated clothing and launder before reuse. Seek help if irritation develops.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water. Avoid inducing vomiting. Seek medical attention if a significant amount is swallowed or symptoms appear.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. Focus on containing risk rather than aggressive extinguishing, as material itself does not burn easily.
Hazards from Combustion: Combustion forms carbon oxides, phosphorus oxides, and nitrogen oxides. Acrid smoke is possible in a large fire.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus recommended in case of significant combustion.
Handling Small Fires: Remove combustibles from the area to cut off fuel sources.
Personal Precautions: Avoid breathing dust. Wear gloves, goggles, and an N95 mask or respirator during clean-up. Ventilate the area as much as possible.
Environmental Precautions: Collect spills promptly. Use absorbent paper or damp towel for small amounts; sweep up dry product. Prevent product from entering drains, water sources, or soil.
Methods for Cleaning Up: Carefully sweep or scoop up the powder without creating airborne dust. Dispose of cleaning materials according to relevant waste handling rules for laboratory chemicals.
Handling Practices: Minimize dust generation and accumulation. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in handling area. Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
Safe Storage Conditions: Store in a tightly closed container. Keep in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and strong oxidizing materials. Maintain at -20°C or lower to preserve chemical integrity.
Packaging Guidance: Use sealed glass bottles, HDPE containers, or original packaging from supplier, ensuring desiccation to protect from moisture uptake.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation or fume hood during powder transfer or weighing.
Personal Protective Equipment: Wear nitrile or latex gloves. Chemical splash goggles or safety glasses protect eyes from accidental contact. Lab coat or disposable apron shields skin and garments.
Respiratory Protection: Recommended if dust levels exceed comfort. N95 particulate mask or P3 filter, depending on workplace air monitoring.
Hygiene Measures: Do not touch face during use. Change gloves frequently and discard after handling concentrated product.
Physical State: Powder (free-flowing, white or off-white)
Odor: Odorless
Molecular Weight: Variable; DSPE-PEG(2000) typically ranges from 2700 to 3200 g/mol depending on the PEG length and purity
Solubility: Soluble in many organic solvents (chloroform, DMSO); forms micelles in water; partial solubility in buffered aqueous systems depending on formulation
Melting Point: 55°C - 65°C, depending on PEG and DSPE ratio
Stability: Stable under recommended storage (below 0°C, away from moisture)
Stability: Compound performs best under low temperature storage. Susceptible to hydrolysis under humid or prolonged acidic/basic conditions, compromising the maleimide reactivity.
Material to Avoid: Strong oxidizers, acids, alkalis. Do not expose to high humidity.
Hazardous Decomposition: Degrades to phospholipid byproducts, PEG fragments, and maleimide-adducts if exposed to heat or strong chemicals for extended durations.
Polymerization: No dangerous polymerization expected under ordinary lab handling.
Acute Effects: Limited data indicate low toxicity in standard laboratory exposure. Eye and skin irritation possible. No evidence for acute oral or dermal toxicity.
Chronic Effects: Long-term high-dose exposure data lacking, but PEGylated phospholipids generally show low systemic toxicity. No known links with carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or reproductive toxicity as a class. Maleimide residues may be reactive and should not be ingested or injected outside controlled research.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Ecotoxicity: High molecular weight PEGylated lipids persist in aquatic environments. Breakdown is slow, posing a risk to aquatic organisms if dumped in quantity. No bioaccumulation observed in vertebrate studies with similar PEGylated compounds.
Mobility in Soil: Wanders with surface water run-off, low volatility
Persistence and Degradation: Resists rapid breakdown thanks to PEG chain and phospholipid backbone, making large-scale spills important to contain.
Waste Handling: Dispose of as laboratory chemical waste per local, state, or national regulation. Incinerate only at equipped hazardous waste facilities. Never pour surplus or washings into sinks or natural watercourses.
Container Handling: Triple rinse bottles and vials before discarding, or send for hazardous waste incineration.
Recycling and Recovery: Not practical for small research amounts.
UN Number: Not classified as dangerous goods under most international regulations
Shipping Precautions: Seal tightly, avoid leaks, and use secondary containment for significant transit volume. Prevent exposure to heat and moisture during transit.
Labeling: General laboratory reagent or “for research use only” suffices for small shipped quantities.
Regulatory Status: PEGylated phospholipids and their conjugates often sit outside major chemical hazard classifications under GHS or DOT for research handling. Occupational exposure limits for this specific compound do not appear in published ACGIH or OSHA lists; best practice treats as a nuisance dust with all appropriate PPE.
Compliance Overview: Researcher responsibility covers safe handling, secure storage, and waste reduction under local chemical hygiene plans. Institutional biosafety boards review protocols involving novel PEG-lipid conjugates in animal or cell studies.
Recordkeeping: Keep usage logs and inventory for tracking, especially in regulated biomedical workflows.
