Influence of hydrophobicity on the adjuvant effect of particulate polymeric adjuvants

The hydrophobicity of particulate polymeric acrylic adjuvants was altered by insertion of hydroxyl groups, exchange of a methyl group against a cyano group or elongation of the ester side chain length. These adjuvants were tested by determination of the antibody response after immunization using bovine serum albumin or by measuring the protection against infection using influenza as the antigen. In addition, the hydrophobicity was determined by measurement of the water contact angles. The adjuvant effect increased with increasing hydrophobicity.