tBuO-Ste-AEEA-AEEA-OH

tBuO-Ste-AEEA-AEEA-OH is a synthetic compound designed to modify surfaces, lipids, or biomolecules by providing both a lipophilic anchor and a hydrophilic, PEG-like spacer with a reactive terminal carboxyl group. It features a stearic acid (Ste) moiety whose carboxyl is protected as a tert-butyl ester (tBuO), linked to two sequential AEEA (2-[2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid) units, terminating in a free carboxyl group (OH). This structure enables incorporation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics, selective conjugation via the free acid, and controlled deprotection during chemical synthesis or bioconjugation.

Appearance

• White to off-white solid, potentially waxy due to the stearic acid chain

Source

• Synthetically produced by chemical synthesis

• Typically available from specialized suppliers in PEGylation, lipid modification, and bioconjugation reagents

Molecular Weight

• Estimated between 650–900 g/mol, calculated precisely from constituent fragments

Structure

• Stearic acid (tBuO-protected) linked to two sequential AEEA units via amide bonds

• Terminal carboxyl group (OH) for further conjugation

Biological Activity

• Generally biologically inert alone

• Stearic acid enables membrane insertion/hydrophobic interactions

• AEEA spacer confers water solubility, biocompatibility, and flexibility

• Terminal acid can be activated for conjugation to additional molecules

Purity and Microbial Contamination

Shelf Life and Storage

• Shelf life likely shorter due to complexity; estimate 6–12 months

• Store at –20°C or below, under inert atmosphere (argon or nitrogen), airtight and dry

• Protect from light and moisture

Applications

• Liposome formation: component for surface functionality and stability

• Micelle formation: hydrophobic/hydrophilic structural element

• Surface modification: coating surfaces with amphiphilic properties

• Drug delivery: creating carriers with improved solubility and targeted membrane insertion

• Bioconjugation: attaching molecules to lipids or hydrophobic surfaces via reactive carboxyl group

Key Characteristics

• Lipophilic stearic acid chain for membrane affinity

• Hydrophilic AEEA units for PEG-like solubility

• Reactive terminal carboxyl for conjugation

• tBu protection enables selective deprotection during synthesis

Citation 

• Search “stearic acid liposome” or “micelle formation with stearic acid”

• Search “PEGylated lipid” or “AEEA modification in lipids”

• Explore “carboxyl group activation lipid” for bioconjugation methods

• Check specialized supplier technical sheets for related reagents

• Use Reaxys, SciFinder for chemical fragment literature

• Keywords for Google Scholar: “amphiphilic lipid polymer,” “AEEA lipid modification,” “PEGylation for liposome stability,” “stearic acid membrane insertion”