Adsorption of Globular Proteins to Vaccine Adjuvants

The maximum adsorption/desorption conditions and the adsorption mechanism of globular proteins to vaccine adjuvants were determined. The maximum adsorption ratio of protein to the $Al^{3+}$ content of aluminum oxyhydroxide and the optimal adsorption pH are 2:1 (${\mu}g:{\mu}g$) for bovine serum albumin (BSA) at pH 6.0 and 2.5:1 (${\mu}g:{\mu}g$) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) at pH 7.0, respectively. The maximum adsorption ratio onto aluminum phosphate gel was 1.5:1 (${\mu}g$ Protein:${\mu}g$ $Al^{3+}$) at pH 5.0 for both BSA and IgG. Adsorption of the native globular proteins, BSA and IgG, to aluminum oxyhydroxide and aluminum phosphate gel was reversible as a function of pH. Complete desorption of these proteins from aluminum phosphate gel was observed at alkaline pH, whereas only 80~90% removal from aluminum oxyhydroxide was achieved with alkaline pH and 50 mM phosphate buffer. We conclude that electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the native proteins and adjuvants are important binding mechanisms for adsorption, and that the surface charge of the protein and the colloid components control the maximum adsorption conditions.