Polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds contain a polyether unit, commonly expressed as R1-(O-CH2-CH2)n-O-R2. They are generally biocompatible, non-toxic and stable in both organic and aqueous solutions, and so are extensively used in biological applications, as well as nanotechnology and materials research. Proteins with PEG chain modifications and compounds encapsulated in PEG liposomes exhibit a longer half-life in vivo than their non-PEGylated counterparts, a phenomenon known as PEG shielding. Functionalised PEG lipids and phospholipids can be used for protein-PEG conjugation. 4-Arm PEG-GA is a multiarm PEG derivative with carboxylic acid groups at each terminal of the four arms connected to one pentaerythritol core. There is a C4 ester linkage between PEG and the glutaric acid COOH group. PEG acid can be used to react with amine groups with peptide coupling reagents such as NHS and DCC, EDC.