STABILIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF INTERLEUKIN-2 IN-VITRO BIOACTIVITY BY NEW CARRIERS - SUPRAMOLECULAR BIOVECTORS

Human recombinant interleukin-2 can be associated and released from su pramolecular biovectors (SMBVs), consisting of particles made of polym erized polysaccharides. The particles are substituted with phosphate r esidues and contain bound lipid molecules (palmitic acid) buried near their surfaces. The association of IL-2 with SMBVs modifies its in vit ro bioactivity. SMBVs prolong the growth of IL-2-dependent cells, enha nce IL-2 proliferative activity and restore the activity of impaired I L-2. These properties mainly depend on the presence of lipids linked t o the SMBV and on both the degree of acylation and the SMBV: IL-2 rati o. SMBVs are therefore good candidates for the stabilization and enhan cement of the biological activity of IL-2.