The microparticulate adjuvant is a plant-derived, natural material consisting primarily of the polysaccharide ferulated arabinoxylan (AXF).  The material is first gelled by simple cross-linking chemistry and then converted into microparticles of <1mm by a simple procedure, accomplished within a few minutes. The immunisation of mice with protein antigens formulated with microparticulate AXF results in IgG antibody responses comparable to those generated utilising commercial adjuvants.  Endotoxin levels  are below those known to be immunostimulatory in mice and are not responsible for the observed adjuvant effect.  Overall, the properties of the material make it particularly attractive for use with protein antigens.

A novel water-based microparticulate adjuvant material is under development and available, by arrangement,  for research with proprietary immunogens. The adjuvant activity of this material depends on its conversion into microparticles, which is carried out in aqueous solution enabling antigen formulations can be prepared within minutes.  In mice, the humoral antibody responses obtained to date rival or exceed those observed using oil-based systems, and the material is simpler to handle and to inject than oil-based adjuvants.

In summary, the microparticulate AXF :