Method for producing soluble glucans
AssigneeAlpha-Beta Technology, Inc.
InventorsSpiros Jamas, D. Davidson Easson, Jr., Gary R. Ostroff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for producing soluble preparations of neutral glucan polymers is disclosed. The method involves treating whole glucan particles with a unique sequence of acid and alkaline treatments to produce soluble glucan. The soluble glucan can be purified to obtain a physiologically acceptable solution of neutral glucan molecules. A soluble neutral glucan preparation is obtained which forms a clear solution at a neutral pH and is equilibrated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
Claims24
A process for producing underivatized, aqueous soluble .beta.(1-3) glucan having immunostimulating properties, comprising the steps of:
- a. contacting a suspension of aqueous insoluble .beta.(1-3) glucan with an organic acid to solubilize said glucan thereby forming an acid-soluble and acid-insoluble glucan mixture;
- b. contacting the acid-soluble or acid insoluble portion of the glucans with an alkali solution to dissolve alkali-soluble glucan;
- c. removing alkali-insoluble glucans from the solution of step (b);
- and
- d. neutralizing the solution containing the alkali-soluble .beta.(1-3) glucan obtained from step (c).
A process for producing a solution containing underivatized, aqueous soluble .beta.(1-3) glucans having immunostimulating properties, comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting a suspension of aqueous insoluble .beta.(1-3) glucan with an organic acid to solubilize said glucan thereby forming an acid-soluble and acid-insoluble glucan mixture;
- b) contacting the acid soluble portion of the glucan with an alkali solution to dissolve the alkali-soluble glucan;
- c) removing alkali-insoluble glucan from the solution of step (b);
- d) neutralizing the solution containing the alkali-soluble glucan of step (c);
- and
- e) formulating the underivatized, aqueous soluble .beta.(1-3) glucans with a physiologically acceptable medium to produce a solution which is suitable for parenteral administration.
A process for producing underivatized, aqueous soluble .beta.(1-3) glucan having immunostimulating properties, comprising the steps of:
- p1 a. contacting a suspension of aqueous insoluble .beta.(1-3) glucan with an organic acid to solubilize said glucan thereby forming an acid-soluble and acid-insoluble glucan mixture;
- b. contacting the glucan mixture of step (a) with ethanol to separate the glucans from the acid solution of step (a);
- c. contacting the glucans of step (b) with an alkali solution to dissolve alkali-soluble glucan;
- d. removing alkali-insoluble glucans from the solution of step (c);
- and
- e. neutralizing the solution containing the alkali-soluble .beta.(1-3) glucan obtained from step (d).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.