Patent ID: 8840877

Claim:
A method of preparing an oxidized polysaccharide-protein composition comprising the steps of: (a) oxidizing a polysaccharide with an alkali metal periodate compound to form an oxidized polysaccharide where less than 20% of the oxidized units are comprised of alpha-hydroxy aldehyde units; (b) reacting the oxidized polysaccharide with a protein in the absence of a reducing agent to form a composition comprising an oxidized polysaccharide-protein conjugate, (c) subjecting the oxidized polysaccharide-protein conjugate to dialysis; (d) subjecting the dialyzed polysaccharide-protein conjugate to sterile filtration to allow for administration to a human or animal; the oxidized polysaccharide and the protein being conjugated via one or more imine bonds which are not subjected to reduction; the oxidized polysaccharide-protein composition being soluble in aqueous solvent; the composition being capable of releasing the protein.