Antigen delivery systems using polymeric nanoparticles are of special interest as stable protein‐based antigen carriers. In the present study, novel biodegradable poly(γ‐glutamic acid) (γ‐PGA) nanoparticles were examined for their antigen delivery and immunostimulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. The uptake of ovalbumin by dendritic cells was markedly enhanced by γ‐PGA nanoparticles, and the ovalbumin was gradually released from γ‐PGA nanoparticles into the cells. In addition, γ‐PGA nanoparticles appeared to have great potential as an adjuvant, because they could induce the maturation of dendritic cells. Although not only ovalbumin‐encapsulating nanoparticles (OVA‐NPs) but also a simple mixture of ovalbumin and nanoparticles induced dendritic cell maturation, the only dendritic cells exposed to OVA‐NPs could strongly activate antigen‐specific interferon (IFN)‐γ‐producing T cells. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) p24‐encapsulating nanoparticles activated antigen‐specific IFN‐γ‐producing T cells in spleen cells and induced p24‐specific serum antibodies, as compared to immunization with p24 alone. Like ovalbumin, a mixture of p24 and nanoparticles also induced antigen‐specific serum antibodies but did not activate IFN‐γ‐producing T cells in spleen cells, suggesting that nanoparticles play a critical role in inducing cellular immune responses. Furthermore, γ‐PGA nanoparticles had a capacity comparable to that of the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in inducing p24‐specific serum antibody. However, unlike CFA, they predominantly activated p24‐specific IFN‐γ‐producing T cells. Thus, γ‐PGA nanoparticles encapsulating various antigens may have great potential as novel and efficient protein‐based vaccines against infectious diseases, including HIV‐1 infection. J. Med. Virol. 80:11–19, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.