| BSA | bovine serum albumin |
| MTX | methotrexate |
| DHF | dihydrofolic acid |
| DHFR | dihydrofolate reductase |
| MAL–(CH2)3–COOSu | maleimidopropionic acid-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester |
| GSSG | oxidized glutathione |
| BSA–S–S–MTX | BSA–S–MAL–(CH2)3–CONH–(CH2)2–S–S–(CH2)2–NHγCO–MTX |
| BSA–GSSG–MTX | BSA–S–MAL– (CH2)3–CONH–GSSG–NHγCO–MTX |
| BSA–(CH2)6–MTX | BSA–S–MAL–(CH2)3–CONH–(CH2)6–NHγCO–MTX |
| MALDI-TOF | matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight |
| ESMS | electrospray single quadruple mass spectroscopy |
| DCC | N,N′ dicyclohexylcarbodiimide |
| GSH | reduced glutathione |
| DMF | dimethylformamide |
| DIPEA | N,N′ diisopropylethylamine |