IN-VIVO ABSORPTION OF ALUMINUM-CONTAINING VACCINE ADJUVANTS USING AL-26

Aluminium hydroxide (AH) and aluminium phosphate (AP) adjuvants, label led with Al-26, were injected intramuscularly (i.m.) in New Zealand Wh ite rabbits. Blood and urine samples were collected for 28 days and an alysed for Al-26 using accelerator mass spectrometry to determine the absorption and elimination of AH and AP adjuvants. Al-26 was present i n the first blood sample (1 h) for both adjuvants. The area under the blood level curve for 28 days indicates that three times more aluminiu m was absorbed from AP adjuvant than AH adjuvant. The distribution pro file of aluminium to tissues was the same for both adjuvants (kidney > spleen > liver > heart > lymph node > brain). This study has demonstr ated that in vivo mechanisms are available to eliminate aluminium-cont aining adjuvants after i.m. administration. In addition, the pharmacok inetic profiles of AH and AP adjuvants are different. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ltd.