ELUTABILITY OF PROTEINS FROM ALUMINUM-CONTAINING VACCINE ADJUVANTS BYTREATMENT WITH SURFACTANTS

The elutability of proteins from adjuvants in model vaccines composed of ovalbumin adsorbed by aluminum hydroxide adjuvant or lysozyme adsor bed by aluminum phosphate adjuvant following treatment with surfactant solutions was studied. Nonionic (Triton X-100, lauryl maltoside), zwi tterionic (lauryl sulfobetaine), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate), and cationic (cetylpyridinium chloride, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride ) surfactants were investigated. Cetylpyridinium chloride produced the greatest degree of elution (60%) of ovalbumin from aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. Sodium dodecyl sulfate completely eluted lysozyme from alum inum phosphate adjuvant. The effectiveness of surfactants in removing preadsorbed proteins was directly related to their ability to denature the protein. Micellar solubilization and electrostatic repulsion may also contribute to desorption. (C) 1998 Academic Press.