Used as a crosslinking agent in hydrogel formulations for biomedical applications, particularly in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. Its carboxy-functional groups enable conjugation with bioactive molecules such as peptides or proteins, allowing for the development of bioactive scaffolds. The polyethylene glycol backbone provides hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, reducing protein adsorption and cell adhesion nonspecifically. This makes it ideal for creating controlled microenvironments in regenerative medicine. Also employed in pharmaceutical formulations to modify the solubility and release profile of therapeutic agents.