Ipsar: A new class of biocompatible surfactants and functional polymers

Overview

Researchers at Montana State University have developed a novel class of biocompatible surfactants (IPSar) based on polysarcosine, which are biodegradable and highly customizable for multiple applications.

Background

Surfactants and functional polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) are cornerstones in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, and industrial manufacturing where they serve as excipients, stabilizers, emulsifiers and versatile formulation aids. PEG in particular, has become the default choice for many of these use cases and is frequently favored in multiple applications including personal care products, biomedical research, and materials science.

However, PEG's ubiquity is increasingly challenged by several drawbacks. Some patients develop anti-PEG antibodies, leading to hypersensitivity reactions and rapid drug clearance, especially in repeated biologic dosing. High-molecular-weight PEGs may accumulate in organs with uncertain long-term effects, particularly in chronic therapies or patients with renal impairment. In topical applications, PEG can cause irritation or unpredictable absorption in damaged skin, complicating topical and wound care formulations. Manufacturing processes may leave trace contaminants raising safety concerns. PEG can also unpredictably alter drug solubility, release profiles, and interact with other excipients.

While alternatives such as polysarcosine (PSar), poly(oxazoline), and zwitterionic polymers have been explored, most suffer from limited tunability, inefficient synthesis, or lack of broad applicability. The need for a truly biocompatible, customizable, and sustainable PEG replacement is urgent across drug delivery, biomedical materials, and advanced research applications.

Technology overview

Researchers at Montana State University have developed a novel class of biocompatible surfactants based on polysarcosine (IPSar). This class combines a hydrophilic polysarcosine domain with a customizable hydrophobic domain, linked via a proprietary junction motif. A modular synthetic approach enables precise molecular design and tunable surfactant properties. IPSar surfactants often outperform PEG-based analogs in catalytic reactions, facilitate organic synthesis in water (replacing hazardous solvents), and enable efficient PSarylation of small and large molecules. With enhanced tunability and sustainability, the IPSar motif provides a versatile alternative to PEG, suitable for a wide range of pharmaceutical, biomedical, and industrial applications.

Benefits

• Biodegradable and biocompatible, avoiding immunogenicity and accumulation concerns
• Highly customizable for diverse applications
• Outperforms PEG-based surfactants in catalytic and aqueous synthesis
• Sustainable, modular synthesis compatible with green chemistry principles
• Simplifies drug conjugation with efficient PSarylation methods

Applications

• Emulsifier or solubilizer for topical drug formulations, creams, and ointments
• Emulsifier for cosmetics and personal care products, enhancing stability and skin compatibility
• Replacement for hazardous solvents in organic synthesis, enabling greener industrial and laboratory processes
• Hydrogels and scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound care, and biomedical materials
• Industrial surfactant for paints, inks, detergents, and emulsion polymerization
• Industrial lubricant and anti-foaming agent for manufacturing, textile processing, and fermentation
• Surface modification of biomolecules for drug formulations, research and diagnostics