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Cationic/Ionizable Lipids

In the past five years, DC Chemicals has focused on research and development in the RNA delivery field, successfully developing over 500 cationic lipid structures and maintaining an inventory of over 200 cationic lipids. We collaborate with leading gene delivery companies and research institutions worldwide, and our products and services have received widespread acclaim.
DC Chemicals has accumulated substantial experience in the synthesis of lipids, particularly for highly complex lipid molecules. Our unique chemical synthesis and purification processes often circumvent patented and literature-reported routes, allowing us to design new synthetic routes that yield lipid molecules with higher purity than those reported in literature and patents. Our representative molecules, such as LP-01, SM-102, ALC-0315, and DLIN-MC3-DMA, have purities exceeding 98% as tested by CAD-HPLC, placing them among the top purity products available.We have the capability to scale production from grams to kilograms.


Cationic ionizable lipids play a major role in the LNP formulation and its ability to transfect target cells with its cargo. The ionizable lipids are used to complex negatively charged nucleic acid cargo. The mRNA-cationic lipid complex fuses with the cell membrane and is then delivered into the cytosol. To be able to play these roles efficiently, a cationic ionizable lipid must be engineered with a suitable apparent acid dissociation constant (pKa). The apparent pKa of a cationic ionizable lipid is the likely pKa at the LNP surface. Currently, the cationic ionizable lipids in FDA-approved therapeutics all have an apparent pKa between 6-7. This is crucial for the cationic ionizable lipid to maintain a neutral charge while in systemic circulation (pH above the pKa of the lipid, pH ~7.5), as well as its ability to become positively charged in the endosome (pH ~6.5) and facilitate membrane fusion and subsequent cytosolic release.
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Cat. No. Product Name Field of Application Chemical Structure
DC49907 5A2-SC8 Featured 5A2-SC8 is a dendrimer for miRNA delivery to late-stage liver tumors with low hepatotoxicity. 5A2-SC8 shows potent EC50 < 0.02 mg/kg (siRNA against FVII (siFVII)) in dose-response experiments, and well tolerated in separate toxicity studies in chronically ill mice bearing MYC-driven tumors. 5A2-SC8 is a degradable lipid-like compound (ester-based dendrimer) for small RNAs delivery.5A2-SC8, was obtained by screening a large library of more than 1500 ester-based dendrimers containing ionizable amino groups, which have three tertiary amine heads and five lipid tails. Based on this library, the in vitro transfection efficiency of different formulations of 5A2-SC8 iLNPs was evaluated, discovering the optimal formulation (5A2-SC8, DOPE, cholesterol, PEG at a molar ratio of 15:15:30:3) of 5A2-SC8 iLNPs for delivering fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) mRNA to liver.After the intravenous injection via tail, the model mice of hepatorenal tyrosinemia type I had strong FAH protein expression, which prevented body weight loss and increased the survival rate of hepatorenal tyrosinemia mice . In addition to introducing utility of 5A2-SC8 iLNPs for the therapeutic intervention, the 5A2-SC8 iLNPs containing DOTAP have been used to establish complex mouse models via intravenous injection, including in situ liverspecific cancer model and in situ lung-specific cancer model. Based on this iLNPs delivery system, 5A2-SC8 induced model construction method overcomes the time-consuming and costly disadvantages of traditional animal models establishing methods, including transgenesis and gene engineering in embryonic stem cells.
DC49908 OF-02 Featured OF-02 (OF-2) is an alkenyl amino alcohol (AAA) ionizable lipid for highly potent in vivo mRNA delivery.Alkenyl amino alcohols (AAA) are a functional group found in sphingosine and other bioactive molecules. It was used to prepare AAA-based ionizable lipids through ring-opening reactions between alkenyl epoxides (AEs) and polyamine cores. These AAA-based iLNPs could promote high-level protein expression Therefore, AAA-based ionizable lipids OF-00, OF-01, OF-02, and OF-03 were prepared. The results of in vivo delivery of human erythropoietin (hEPO) mRNA showed that the AAA ionizable lipid OF-02 with the linoleic acid derivative could effectively deliver hEPO mRNA. Compared with the positive control CKK-E12, OF-02 showed an increased ability to induce serum EPO protein expression by nearly twofold (Figure 7b). Likewise, it outperformed two benchmark ionizable lipids (503013 and C12-200) in the nucleic acid delivery field. Furthermore, the mRNA delivered by OF-02 iLNPs was mainly in vivo.translated into the liver. The liver-targeting ability of OF-02 iLNPs improves their delivery efficiency. Therefore, the OF-02 iLNPs may become excellent delivery vehicles for the treatment of liver diseases without other side effects of damage to other organs during the treatment
DC49932 FTT5 Featured FTT5 is a lipid-like compound for efficient delivery of long mRNAs in vivo.
DC49952 246C10 Featured 246C10 is a synthesized ionizable lipid. 246C10 can be formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), cholesterol, and C16-PEG2000 ceramide (PEG-lipid) as well as mRNA. The lipid nanoparticle formulations can be used for mRNA delivery. To obtain iLNPs that could specifically target liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), six different ionizable lipids (241C10 to 246C10) were synthesized by an epoxide ring-opening reaction with piperazine- or piperidine-containing amines. Biodistribution and gene regulation of various iLNPs were assessed in vivo, and the results showed that the 246C10 iLNPs (containing piperazine amine) had the highest luciferase expression in the liver. When further analyzing the 246C10 iLNPs transfection efficiency in different types of liver cells, it was found that tdTomato fluorescence was mainly concentrated in hepatocytes, not in LSECs. Figure 6f shows that 80% of hepatocytes are fluorescent, 40% of LSECs are fluorescent, and 20% of Kupffer cells are fluorescent. Due to the mannose receptor on LSECs, mannose-PEG lipid was introduced into 246C10 iLNPs to alter the distribution of iLNPs in different liver cells. As shown in Figure 6g, tdTomato fluorescence distribution was 15% of hepatocytes, 70% of LSECs, and 15% of Kupffer cells, significantly improved the ability of iLNPs to actively target LSECs. In contrast, this work indirectly shows that the iLNPs with piperazine head lipid are more able to deliver mRNA to the liver and translate the target protein than the iLNPs with piperidine head lipid. It is worth mentioning that the preparation buffer of 246C10 iLNPs could influence the encapsulation efficiency of mRNA. With the addition of sodium chloride in the citrate buffer, the encapsulation efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA was increased. These iLNPs were able to treat hemophilia safely, without causing hepatotoxicity, the immune response induced by Cas9 and off-target editing.
DC70008 CLinDMA Featured CLinDMA, a cationic lipid known to potentially trigger inflammatory responses, is utilized in the synthesis of LNP201. This liposome-based assembly is specifically designed for the systemic delivery of siRNA.
DC70010 98N12-5 Featured 98N12-5 is an ionizable cationic lipid. It has been used in combination with other lipids in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs containing 98N12-5 and encapsulating proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) siRNA selectively accumulate in the liver and reduce total serum cholesterol levels in mice and rats and serum LDL levels in cynomolgus monkeys.
DC57086 CL4H6 Featured CL4H6 is a pH-sensitive cationic lipid. CL4H6 is the main component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which can be used to target and deliver siRNA, and induces a potent gene-silencing response[1][2].
DC70989 14:0 DAP Featured 14:0 DAP (1,2-dimyristoyl-3-dimethylammonium-propane ) is a cationic lipid that can be used for drug delivery.
DC71034 EDMPC Featured EDMPC, a cationic lipid, has an enhanced ability to deliver DNA to pulmonary tissues. EDMPC mediates intralobar DNA delivery to rodents.
DC71044 Fluorescent DOTAP Featured Fluorescent DOTAP, a cationic lipid, can be used for the research of nucleic acid and protein delivery.
DC71129 Transfectam Featured Transfectam is a cationic lipid able to interact with DNA to form complexes that mediate efficient gene transfer into various eukaryotic cells.
DC71417 YSK 05 Featured YSK 05 is a pH-sensitive cationic lipid. YSK 05 improves the intracellular trafficking of non-viral vectors. YSK 05-MEND shows significantly good gene silencing activity and hemolytic activity. YSK 05 overcomes the suppression of endosomal escape by PEGylation. YSK 05 effectively enhances siRNA delivery both in vitro and in vivo.
DC60211 TCL053 Featured TCL053 is an ionizable amino lipid.1 It has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and has a pKa value of 6.8. LNPs containing TCL053 and encapsulating mRNA encoding the Cas9 nuclease, in combination with LNPs containing TCL053 and encapsulating single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting the Rosa26 locus, have been used to induce CRISPR-mediated gene editing in the mouse gastrocnemius muscle.TCL053 is an ionizable lipid that has received FDA approval for preparing mRNA vaccines. It is a three-tailed ionizable lipid to overcome the disadvantage of nonrepeatable administration of AAV vectors. In addition, combined with limb perfusion administration, TCL053 iLNPs could transiently deliver CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA to multiple muscle tissues, reducing immunogenicity and increasing the safety of iLNPs. It is great progress for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other diseases that require multiple doses.
DC60212 NT1-O14B Featured NT1-O14B is a tryptamine-containing cationic lipidoid.1 It has been used in combination with other lipids in the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Intravenous administration of LNPs containing NT1-O14B and encapsulating antisense nucleotides against tau decreases tau brain levels in mice.
DC60213 DOTMA Featured N-[1-(2,3-Dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium (DOTMA) is a cationic lipid.It has been used as a component in liposomes that can be used to encapsulate siRNA, microRNAs, and oligonucleotides and for gene transfection in vitro.
DC60215 Moderna Lipid 29 Featured Lipid 29 is an ionizable amino lipid (pKa = 6.91) from Moderna platform that has been used in combination with other lipids in the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).Administration of human erythropoietin (EPO) mRNA in lipid 29-containing LNPs increases serum EPO levels in mice.
DC71699 DOIC Featured DOIC is a cationic lipid that can be used for RNA vaccines.
DC80050 LIPID A6 Featured Ionizable lipid A6 (di(dec-3-yn-1-yl) 9-((4-(dimethylamino) butanoyl)oxy) heptadecanedioate) was developed by modifying the backbone structure of Dlin-MC3-DMA through introducing alkynyl and ester groups into the lipid tails. Alkyne lipid A6 demonstrated a significant improvement in transfection efficiency (~8.5, ~2.0, and ~2.5-fold higher than the original MC3, C12-200 and cKK-E12 containing LNPs, respectively).The performance of the A6 coprepared into iLNPs with other amine-containing lipid materials (cKKE12) was evaluated, and the molar ratio of the formulation was changed to 35:16.0:46.5:2.5 (A6/cKKE12: DOPE: Chol: PEG). The results showed that these formulations synergistically facilitated more effective mRNA delivery and improved tolerability following single and repeated dosing. It was confirmed that albumin-associated macrophage phagocytosis and endocytosis is an apolipoprotein-independent cellular internalization pathway of iLNPs in the liver. According to the fusion kinetics, the lipids with highfrequency tail protrusion and high lateral diffusion coefficient can perturb and trigger membrane sprouting, which in turn promotes membrane fusion. The application of iLNPs with those lipids (such as A6) may be an effective method to further enhance the release of mRNA in vivo.
DC80065 113-O12B Featured 113-O12B is a disulfide bond-containing ionizable cationic lipidoid. 113-O12B LNP, an LN-targeting LNP delivery system, is developed for a mRNA cancer vaccine. The 113-O12B/mRNA shows enhanced expression in APCs compared with ALC-0315/mRNA, indicating the LN-specific targeting ability.
DC80066 306Oi10 Featured 306Oi10 is a branched-chain ionizable lipidoid that has shown significant promise in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for mRNA delivery. Its unique structural and functional properties make it a highly efficient delivery vehicle for mRNA-based therapeutics.
DC80068 LIPID PL1 Featured PL1 is a novel biomimetic phospholipid. PL1 nanoparticle delivery of costimulatory receptor CD137 mRNA improved the immunotherapy with an anti-CD137 Ab to some extent in both tumor models with better results obtained in the B16F10 melanoma model as compared to the A20 lymphoma model.
DC80069 OF-DEG-LIN Featured OF-Deg-Lin is a biodegradable lipid containing an ester group, developed from the nonbiodegradable, linoleic acid derived OF-02; mRNA-LNPs containing OF-Deg-Lin showed high expression in the spleen. The ionizable lipid Of-Deg-Lin was synthesized, which possessed the similar chemical structure with OF-02.Both Of-Deg-Lin and OF-02 had diketopiperazine core and doubly unsaturated tails, and the difference between them was that Of-02 contained nondegradable 1,2-amino-alcohol linkages, whereas Of-Deg-Lin contained degradable ester linkages The change of linker altered iLNPs distribution and mRNA expression in vivo. Although the Of-Deg-Lin iLNPs could accumulate in the liver and spleen, they induced the expression of most functional proteins in B lymphocytes of spleen (over 85% of the total protein), not in the liver. Of-Deg-Lin iLNPs can deliver mRNA and express functional proteins in the spleen specifically, but the mechanism is unclear.
DC80070 A2-Iso5-2DC18 Featured A2-Iso5-2DC18 is a top-performing lipid for mRNA delivery in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), BMDMs and HeLa cells.
DC80071 A18-ISO5-2DC18 (Pimidol) Featured A18-Iso5-2DC18 that could not only deliver mRNA vaccines robustly but also activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway. A18-Iso5-2DC18 strongly binds to the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and induces potent cytolytic T lymphocyte responses, resulting in substantial antitumor immunity (Miao et al. 2019).
DC80072 306-O12B (Triscormin) Featured 306-O12B is a cationic lipidoid.306-O12B LNP is more efficient than MC-3 LNP in inducing loss-of-function mutations in Angptl3 through CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing. It has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Intravenous administration of LNPs containing 306-O12B and encapsulating an mRNA reporter accumulate specifically in the mouse liver. LNPs containing 306-O12B and encapsulating mRNA encoding the Cas9 nuclease (mCas9) and single-guide RNA targeting Angptl3 (sgAngptl3), the gene encoding angiopoietin-related protein 3, have been used to induce CRISPR-mediated gene knockdown in mice resulting in a reduction of serum Angptl3 protein, LDL, and triglyceride levels. A novel ionizable lipids library was constructed by a combinatory solvent-free Michael addition reaction between disulfide bondincorporated acrylate lipid tails and amine-containing heads. In this library, the tail-branched bioreducible ionizable lipid 306-O12B was screened out. Due to the presence of special ester bonds and branches in lipid tails, the accumulation of iLNPs in the liver was increased, and endosome escape was prompted. These iLNPs were used to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA targeting to angiopoietin-like 3 (Angptl3). Compared with FDA-approved MC3, 306-O12B induced more specific and efficient Angptl3 gene knockout in the liver, resulting in significant decrease in the levels of serum Angptl3 protein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride. According to the molecular shape hypothesis outlined several decades ago, the increase of branches can create ionizable lipids with more cone-shaped structure to enhance the destructiveness of the membrane structure of the endosome and increase mRNA release. However, it is unknown whether the structural stability of iLNPs will be sacrificed with the increase of branches. The optimal branches and chain length need to be further explored.
DC80080 OF-C4-Deg-Lin Featured OF-C4-Deg-Lin is a novel ionizable lipid for RNA delivery. OF-C4-Deg-Lin LNPs entrapping mRNA coding for luciferase induce the majority of protein expression in the spleen, with minimal translation in the liver, and negligible translation in other organs. OF-C4-Deg-Lin LNPs entrapping mRNA coding for luciferase induce the majority of protein expression in the spleen, with minimal translation in the liver, and negligible translation in other organs. To improve the mRNA delivery to extrahepatic tissues, a series of degradable diketopiperazine-based ionizable lipids were synthesized. Through evaluating the mRNA functional activity delivered by iLNPs, it was found that the ionizable lipids with doubly unsaturated lipid tails and linkers containing a length of four carbon aliphatic chain (Of-C4-Deg-Lin) could deliver the mRNA more efficiently. Moreover, compared with cKK-E12 and Invivofectamine, Of-C4-Deg-Lin could specifically induce more than 85% of firefly luciferase expression in spleen,minimal expression in the liver, and insignificant expression in other tissues.
DC81110 Lipid 202 (L202) Featured L202 is a novel ionizable lipid for RNA delivery.
DC82001 4A3-SC8 Featured 4A3-SC8 is a novel Ionizable amino lipid for RNA delivery.The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has been a hotspot in the field of gene therapy, especially the gene correction induced by homology-directed repair (HDR). However, its application has various obstacles, such as large molecular weight, poor stability, off-target risk, and the complexity of codeliver multiple genes. Farbiak et al. established a novel ionizable lipid library consisting of four distinct amine cores (3A3, 3A5, 4A1, 4A3) and nine peripheries with different alkyl chain lengths (SC5-SC14), and screened out a class of iLNPs with ability of encapsulating Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA and donor DNA simultaneously. The delivery efficiency (quantified by luciferase mRNA expression) and iLNPs toxicity were evaluated with three different cell lines (HEK293T, HeLa, and IGROV-1), indicating the formulation containing 4A3-SC8 was the best. 4A3-SC8 iLNPs successfully induced HDR in HEK293 cells by one-pot delivery of Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA, and the correct ssDNA template. Confocal microscopy imaging showed that a portion of blue fluorescence in cells was corrected to green fluorescence. Furthermore, the nucleic acid ratios of Cas9: sgRNA: donor DNA loading in iLNPs at a ratio of 2:1:3 could maximize the HDR efficiency with the editing efficiency up to 23%, which breaks through the current bottleneck of HDR efficiency of only 1–5%. This progress is undoubtedly an important advance in the gene therapy field to cure diseases caused by genetic mutations.
DC81060 ATX-001 Featured ATX-001 is a novel ionizable cationic lipid compound for RNA delivery.
DC82003 A12-Iso5-2DC18 Featured A12-Iso5-2DC18 is a novel amine containing lipid can be used for mRNA delivery, activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, and exhibit anti-tumor immunity.

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