Water soluble lipidated arabinogalactan

Abstract

Arabinogalactan compositions are provided which are useful in a wide variety of different biomedical applications. In one embodiment, water soluble lipidated arabinogalactans are provided which include arabinogalactan with a limited proportion of lipophilic groups, such as long-chain hydrocarbon groups, covalently attached to free hydroxyl groups on the arabinogalactan. The lipidated arabinogalactans are water soluble and biocompatible and are useful for a wide variety of different biomedical applications. The lipidated arabinogalactans can be used, for example, to inhibit cell adhesion, and to inhibit infection or inflammation. The lipidated arabinogalactans further may be used as adjuvants, to inhibit metastasis, and in other therapeutic applications.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A compound comprising arabinogalactan covalently attached to a lipophilic group, wherein the compound is water soluble.  
     
     
         2 . The compound of    claim 1    wherein the solubility of the compound in water is greater than about 0.1%.  
     
     
         3 . The compound of    claim 1    wherein the arabinogalactan is ultrarefined.  
     
     
         4 . The compound of    claim 3    wherein the arabinogalactan is isolated from a tree of the genus Larix.  
     
     
         5 . The compound of    claim 1    wherein the arabinogalactan is selected from the group consisting of naturally occurring arabinogalactan or portions thereof, and chemically or biochemically modified arabinogalactan or portions thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The compound of    claim 1    wherein the lipophilic group is a long chain hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         7 . The compound of    claim 6    wherein the compound comprises arabinogalactan covalently attached to an aliphatic acid having the formula HOOC[CH 2 ] n CH 3 , wherein n is between 1 and 90.  
     
     
         8 . The compound of    claim 6    wherein the compound comprises arabinogalactan covalently attached to an aliphatic acid having the formula HOOC[CH 2 ] n CH 3 , wherein n is between 4 and 30.  
     
     
         9 . The compound of    claim 8    wherein the degree of substitution of the lipophilic groups in a sample of the compound is between 0.01 to 15%.  
     
     
         10 . The compound of    claim 1    wherein the lipophilic group is selected from the group consisting of fat soluble vitamins, phytosterols, terpenoids, phospholipids, glycerols, and natural or synthetic fats.  
     
     
         11 . An aqueous system further comprising a second compound and an effective amount of the compound of    claim 1    to enhance the water solubility of the second compound.  
     
     
         12 . An aqueous solution comprising the compound of    claim 1    in an amount effective to form a stable emulsion with a non-aqueous second phase.  
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising the compound of    claim 1    in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of    claim 13    wherein the lipophilic group comprises an antineoplastic agent.  
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising an antigen and an effective amount of the compound of    claim 1    to serve as an adjuvant in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of    claim 15    wherein the antigen is a protein.  
     
     
         17 . A method for treating diseases in animals and humans caused by infectious organisms comprising administering an effective amount of a water soluble compound, comprising arabinogalactan covalently attached to a lipophilic group, to alleviate the disease.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17    wherein the inflammation is associated with neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion.  
     
     
         19 . A method for treating diseases in animals and humans caused by inflammation, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a water soluble compound, comprising arabinogalactan covalently attached to a lipophilic group, to alleviate the disease.  
     
     
         20 . A method for inhibiting metastasis in animals or humans comprising administering an effective amount of a water soluble compound, comprising arabinogalactan covalently attached to a lipophilic group, to alleviate the disease.  
     
     
         21 . An improvement in a method for producing an immune response in an animal or human to an antigen, the method comprising administering the antigen to the animal or human together with a compound comprising arabinogalactan covalently attached to a lipophilic group.  
     
     
         22 . The improvement of    claim 21    wherein the antigen is a protein.