Some Properties of a Polymeric Surfactant Derived from Alginate

Abstract

The aim of this study was to prepare a polymeric surfactant from alginate, to evaluate the properties of this surfactant for pharmaceutical application and to study the effect of the surfactant on immune response. The polymeric surfactant was prepared by the method previously reported. Surface tension of its solution was determined by maximum pull force technique. Proliferation of splenocytes was performed by the measurement of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation during DNA synthesis. The proliferative response of splenocyte to the surfactant was compared to quillaja saponin. The surface tension of the surfactant in water was decreased to 30.37 mN/m. Critical concentrations for micelle formation in water, 5% dextrose, phosphate buffered saline and 0.9% NaCl were 2.95 mg/ml, 3.07 mg/ml, 1.55 mg/ml and 1.52 mg/ml, respectively. The surfactant at the concentration higher than 1.5 mg/ml showed significantly reduction of splenocyte proliferation. The highest stimulation was found at a concentration of 0.75 mg/ml. The alginatederived polymeric surfactant seems to form micelles in aqueous solutions and to stimulate immune responses. These results indicated that the polymeric surfactant could be a potential vaccine adjuvant.