Compositions for treatment or prevention of bioterrorism

A method of treating a person who has or may be exposed to a biological weapon to prevent or alleviate symptoms associated with exposure to the biological weapon comprising administering to the person a pulmonary formulation comprising diketopiperazines having a structure selected from the group consisting of

• wherein n is between 0 and 7, Q is, independently, a C1–20 straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalkyl, heterocyclic, alkyl-heterocyclic, or heterocyclic-alkyl;
• T is —C(O)O, —OC(O), —C(O)NH, —NH, —NQ, —OQO, —O, —NHC(O), —OP(O), —P(O)O, —OP(O)2, —P(O)2O, ——OS(O)2, or —S(O)3;
• U is an acid group, a basic group or a zwitterionic C1-20 chain containing at least one acidic group and at least one basic group, wherein the side chains can be further functionalized with an alkene or alkyne group at any position, one or more of the carbons on the side chain can be replaced with an oxygen, one or more of the carbons can be functionalized with an acidic or basic group, and wherein the ring atoms X at positions 1 and 4 are either O or N;
• or
• wherein the ring atoms X at positions 1 and 4 are either O or N;
• and at least one of the side-chain substituents R at positions 3 and 6 contains an ionizable group;
• and
• a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of agents neutralizing toxins or nerve gases, antiinfectives, antigens, antibodies, and immunostimulants for the treatment of an individual exposed to a biological weapon.

A device for use in treating or preventing an individual exposed to a biological weapon, wherein the device contains diketopiperazines particles comprising a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of agents neutralizing toxins or nerve gases, antiinfectives, antibodies, antigens, and immunostimulants for the treatment or alleviation of symptoms of an individual exposed to a biological weapon, and the diketopiperazines have a structure selected from the group consisting of

• wherein n is between 0 and 7, Q is, independently, a C1–20 straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalkyl, heterocyclic, alkyl-heterocyclic, or heterocyclic-alkyl;
• T is —C(O)O, —OC(O), —C(O)NH, —NH, —NQ, —OQO, —O, —NHC(O), —OP(O), —P(O)O, —OP(O)2, —P(O)2O, ——OS(O)2, or —S(O)3;
• U is an acid group, a basic group or a zwitterionic C1-20 chain containing at least one acidic group and at least one basic group, wherein the side chains can be further functionalized with an alkene or alkyne group at any position, one or more of the carbons on the side chain can be replaced with an oxygen, one or more of the carbons can be functionalized with an acidic or basic group, and wherein the ring atoms X at positions 1 and 4 are either O or N;
• or
• wherein the ring atoms X at positions 1 and 4 are either O or N;
• and at least one of the side-chain substituents R at positions 3 and 6 contains an ionizable group;
• and means for introducing the diketopiperazine particles into the pulmonary system of the individual.