title: Polyphosphazene polyelectrolytes: a link between the formation of noncovalent complexes with antigenic proteins and immunostimulating activity.
abstract: Polyphosphazene polyelectrolytes are potent immunostimulants. Their in vivo performance has been demonstrated for various antigens in a number of animal models. To improve understanding of the mechanism of action, we performed a comparative study in a model system: bovine serum albumin, BSA-poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene], PCPP, in vitro and in vivo. Multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and size-exclusion HPLC methods were used to investigate polyphosphazene-protein formulations in an attempt to establish correlations between their physicochemical behavior and immunostimulating activity. These studies revealed the formation of water-soluble noncovalent protein-polymer complexes in the system. It was shown that both the amount of bound protein and the complex conformation could play an important role in the in vivo performance of the polyphosphazene polyelectrolytes.
authors.affiliation: Parallel Solutions Inc., 763D Concord Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. aandrianov@ parallelsolutionsinc.com
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Andrianov
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Bryan E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004573:Electrolytes; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004573:Electrolytes; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C108974:poly(phosphazene); D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine