Liposome particle containing viral or bacterial antigenic subunit

• US 4,235,877 A
• Filed: 06/27/1979
• Issued: 11/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Fullerton, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US06/052,379
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 424/88-92
• US Class Current: 424/450
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/55555 Liposomes; Vesicles, e.g. nanoparticles; Spheres, e.g. nanospheres; Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/12 Viral antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/145 Orthomyxoviridae, e.g. influenza virus
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/292 Serum hepatitis virus, hepatitis B virus, e.g. Australia antigen
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/39 characterised by the immunostimulating additives, e.g. chemical adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1271 Non-conventional liposomes, e.g. PEGylated liposomes, liposomes coated with polymers liposome as conjugate A61K47/6911
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2730/10134 Use of virus or viral component as vaccine, e.g. live-attenuated or inactivated virus, VLP, viral protein
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2760/16134 Use of virus or viral component as vaccine, e.g. live-attenuated or inactivated virus, VLP, viral protein
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 424/812 Liposome comprising an antibody, antibody fragment, antigen, or other specific or nonspecific immunoeffector

Abstract

Subunit viral or bacterial antigens are incorporated into liposomes containing a positively charged amino-containing surfactant. The resulting complex is antigenically more active than the free antigen.

Claims

1. A particle comprising a liposome, a positively charged quaternary ammonium salt of an amino-containing surfactant of the formulas ##STR2## wherein R¹ is a straight or branched chain alkyl radical of from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, R² and R³ may be the same or different and are alkyl of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R⁴ is benzyl, R⁵ and R⁶ together are a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic radical, and X is a halide ion, preferably chloride or bromide, and a viral or bacterial subunit antigen reacted therewith to form a complex which complex is.

2. A particle according to claim 1 wherein the liposome is formed from a phosphatidylcholine-containing lipid.

3. A particle according to claim 1 wherein the subunit antigen is derived from influenza virus, hepatitis B virus, N. gonorrhoeae, or Meningococcus polysaccharide types A or C.