Japan Science and Technology Agency

Mitsui Sugar Co., Ltd.

Mizu, Masami

Munenori Numata

Seiji Shinkai

Kazuo Sakurai

Masami Mizu

Kazuya Koumoto

Takahiro Matsumoto

Teruaki Hasegawa

Tomohisa Fujisawa

Disclosed is a complex which comprises a carbon nanotube and a modified polysaccharide having a backbone chain with the side thereof being introduced with monosaccharide or oligosaccharide residues. The polysaccharide is preferably &#x3b2;-1,3-glucan. The complex is prepared by admixing a solution of the modified polysaccharide dissolved in an aprotic polar solvent or a strong alkali solution with an aqueous dispersion of the carbon nanotube, and incubating the mixture.

Polysaccharide-carbon nanotube complex

Disclosed is a new type of immunostimulating agent including an immunostimulating oligonucleotide complexed with a carrier which is safe and has a high transfection effect. The carrier complexed with the immunostimulating oligonucleotide to form the immunostimulating agent is a polysaccharide having &#x3b2;-1,3-bonds (preferably &#x3b2;-1,3-glucan such as schizophyllan). A preferred example of the immunostimulating oligonucleotide is one containing an unmethylated CpG motif. The polysaccharide for use is preferably modified with nucleic acid-binding functional group and/or cell membrane-affinitive functional group.

Immunostimulating agents

Growing community of inventors

Fukuoka, Japan

Munenori Numata