Used in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications for modifying drugs and proteins to improve solubility, stability, and circulation time in the body. Commonly employed in the development of PEGylated therapeutics, where it helps reduce immunogenicity and slow down degradation of active compounds. Also utilized in creating functionalized nanoparticles and hydrogels for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Its reactive acetic acid end group allows for easy conjugation with amines and other functional groups on biomolecules. Widely applied in research settings for labeling and crosslinking due to its biocompatibility and water-soluble properties.