Final answer:
Adjuvants are compounds used to enhance the immune response to antigens. Examples of adjuvants include alum salts and adjuvants used in subunit vaccines. Nanoparticulate adjuvants have been developed for cancer immunotherapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adjuvants are immunogenic compounds used to enhance the immune response to antigens. In the context of cancer immunotherapy, nanoparticulate adjuvants have been developed to deliver antigens and immunotherapeutic biomolecules, leading to improved therapeutic effects. Nanoparticles can interact with antigen-presenting cells and enhance immune responses. Some examples of adjuvants used in vaccines include alum salts, which trigger the release of danger signals and activate the immune system, and adjuvants used in subunit vaccines, which consist of specific components of infectious organisms along with high molecular weight compounds to create memory cells safely.