incomplete freund's adjuvant

Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA) is a water-in-oil emulsion adjuvant used to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines, particularly peptide-based cancer vaccines. It consists of a mixture of mineral oil and a surfactant, such as mannide monooleate, but lacks the mycobacterial components found in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). IFA functions primarily by creating a "depot" at the injection site, which allows for the slow, sustained release of the co-administered antigen and protects it from rapid enzymatic degradation. This prolonged exposure, combined with the recruitment and activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), significantly boosts the cellular and humoral immune responses. In clinical settings, the pharmaceutical-grade version Montanide ISA-51 is widely utilized in trials for various cancers, including neuroendocrine carcinomas and glioblastoma, often in combination with peptide antigens like SurVaxM.

Brand names

Montanide ISA-51Montanide ISA 51 VG

Other names

IFAIncomplete Freund Adjuvant