title: Aluminum compounds used as adjuvants in vaccines.
abstract: The structure of nine commercially manufactured aluminum-containing adjuvants was investigated by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron micrography, and energy dispersive spectrometry. Seven samples which were labeled as aluminum hydroxide were identified as boehmite, a crystalline aluminum oxyhydroxide [AlO(OH)]. However, the degree of crystallinity varied between the samples. Two samples which were labeled as aluminum phosphate were found to be amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate. Buffer anions and sulfate anions substitute for hydroxyls in the amorphous aluminum hydroxide formed by the in situ alum precipitation method. Finally, the aluminum-containing adjuvant in diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, U.S.P., produced by three manufacturers was characterized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirodkar
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hem
mesh_terms: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D000838:Anions; D002021:Buffers; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D003460:Crystallization; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D000838:Anions; D002021:Buffers; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide