Drug delivery product and methods

A particulate delivery system comprising an extracted yeast cell wall comprising less than 90 weight percent beta-glucan and more than 50 weight percent chitin, a nucleic acid payload molecule, and a cationic payload trapping molecule, wherein the cationic payload trapping molecule is contained within an interior space defined by the extracted yeast cell wall and wherein the payload trapping molecule is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate retention of a payload within the extracted yeast cell wall.

A particulate delivery system comprising an extracted yeast cell wall comprising less than 90 weight percent beta-glucan and more than 30 weight percent mannan, a nucleic acid payload molecule, and a cationic payload trapping molecule, wherein the cationic payload trapping molecule is contained within an interior space defined by the extracted yeast cell wall and wherein the payload trapping molecule is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate retention of a payload within the extracted yeast cell wall.

An article of manufacture comprising a first container containing a nucleic acid payload molecule, a second container containing a particulate delivery system comprising an extracted yeast cell wall comprising less than 90 weight percent beta-glucan and a cationic payload trapping molecule, and instructions for use, wherein the payload trapping molecule is contained within an interior space defined by the extracted yeast cell wall and wherein the payload trapping molecule is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate retention of the payload molecule within the extracted yeast cell wall.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a particulate delivery system comprising an extracted yeast cell wall comprising less than 90 weight percent beta-glucan, a cationic payload trapping molecule and a nucleic acid payload molecule, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the payload trapping molecule is contained within an interior space defined by the extracted yeast cell wall and wherein the payload trapping molecule is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate retention of the payload molecule within the extracted yeast cell wall.

A method of exposing an individual to an antigen comprising the step of contacting a phagocytic cell of the individual with a particulate delivery system comprising an extracted yeast cell wall comprising less than 90 weight percent beta-glucan, a cationic payload trapping molecule and payload molecule, wherein the payload molecule is a recombinant DNA construct comprising an open reading frame encoding the antigen that can be expressed in the cells of the individual, wherein the payload trapping molecule is contained within an interior space defined by the yeast cell wall particle, and wherein the payload trapping molecule is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate retention of the payload molecule within the yeast cell wall.