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Home > RNA Delivery > Cationic/Ionizable Lipids

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
DC60510 Iso-A11B5C1 Featured
Iso-A11B5C1 is an ionizable lipid. The iso-A11B5C1 LNP demonstrates a high level of muscle-specific mRNA delivery efficiency. exhibiting transfection efficiency comparable to the commercially available lipid SM-102, while considerably reducing inadvertent mRNA expression in main organs such as the liver and spleen.Additionally, study results show that intramuscular administration of mRNA formulated with iso-A11B5C1 LNP caused potent cellular immune responses, even with limited expression observed in lymph nodes.
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DC42537 ALC-0315 Featured
ALC-0315 is an ionisable aminolipid that used for mRNA compaction and aids mRNA cellular delivery. ALC-0315 can be used to form lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery vehicles.
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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.
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DC67217 Moderna Lipid 48 Featured
Moderna Lipid 48 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Moderna patent WO2017049245A2
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DC67212 Acuitas Lipid III-25 Featured
Acuitas Lipid III-25 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Acuitas Therapeutics patent US 10,166,298 B2, with pKa 6.22, Liver Luc 1648 for 0.3mgkg(ng luc/g liver), Liver Luc 13880 for 1mgkg(ng luc/g liver) . It is an analgous of ALC-0315, showing higher activity than ALC-0315.
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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.
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DC67216 Moderna Lipid 26(Lipid M) Featured
Moderna Lipid 26(Lipid M) is an ionizable cationic lipid (pKa = 6.75) that has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for mRNA delivery in vivo. LNPs containing lipid M and encapsulating mRNA encoding influenza virus genes increase anti-influenza virus IgG titers in cynomolgus monkeys without inducing local edema, erythema, or systemic levels of IL-6.
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DC67218 Moderna Lipid compound 182(Lipid 29 analogue-1) Featured
Moderna Lipid compound 182(Lipid 29 analogue-1) is a novel ionizable amine lipid developed by Moderna for the delivery of mRNA-based therapeutics. This lipid is part of Moderna's proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform, which is designed to encapsulate and protect mRNA, facilitate its cellular uptake, and enable efficient intracellular release. The ionizable nature of Lipid Compound 182 allows it to interact with mRNA at low pH (during LNP formulation) and release the payload in the neutral pH environment of the cytoplasm, making it a critical component of Moderna's mRNA delivery system.
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DC99010 Capstan lipid CICL-1(L829) Featured
CICL1 (L829)​​ is a ​​novel ionizable cationic lipid​​ specifically engineered for ​​targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs)​​ that enables efficient in vivo delivery of mRNA payloads to ​​CD8+ T cells​​. Designed to overcome limitations of conventional LNPs, CICL-1 (L-829)​​significantly ​​reduces off-target delivery to the liver​​ and exhibits ​​rapid clearance​​ compared to benchmark lipids like ALC-0315, while demonstrating ​​enhanced biodegradability and tolerability​​ in rodent and primate models. When incorporated into CD8-targeted tLNPs, CICL 1 (L829 enables ​​preferential transfection of CD8+ T cells​​ over other immune subsets, facilitating the generation of functional ​​anti-CD19 or anti-CD20 CAR T cells directly *in vivo​​*. These tLNP-engineered CAR T cells mediate ​​rapid, deep B-cell depletion​​ in humanized mice and cynomolgus monkeys, with repopulating B cells exhibiting a naïve phenotype suggestive of immune reset. By eliminating the need for ex vivo manufacturing or lymphodepleting chemotherapy, the L829-tLNP platform represents a ​​safer, scalable approach​​ for accessible CAR T therapy in oncology and autoimmune diseases.
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DC67654 ATX-012
ATX-012 is an ionizable cationic lipid specifically designed for mRNA delivery systems. Its unique chemical structure enables key functions in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations, such as facilitating mRNA encapsulation and enhancing endosomal escape for efficient intracellular delivery.
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DC67652 CICL-242
CICL-242​ is a constrained ionizable cationic lipid highlighted in patent US 20250127728A1 as a promising candidate for advanced therapeutic delivery, particularly in stem cell and gene editing applications. Its structure features a rigid amine headgroup similar to CICL-207, which likely facilitates efficient endosomal escape and reduces non-specific uptake, enhancing targeted nucleic acid delivery. Although detailed performance data is not fully disclosed in the patent, CICL-242 is explicitly synthesized and included in gene editing experimental systems (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 workflows), suggesting its potential for high-efficiency transfection in hard-to-transfect cells​ like hematopoietic stem cells (CD34⁺). This makes it a strong candidate for ex vivo cell engineering and regenerative medicine, where precision and low off-target effects are critical. While further validation is needed to quantify its efficacy and safety profile, CICL-242 represents a strategic innovation in the lipid library for next-generation genetic therapies.
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DC67651 CICL-238
Based on the data from patent US 20250127728A1, CICL-238​ emerges as a highly promising ionizable lipid candidate, demonstrating notable advantages for targeted delivery applications. It achieves exceptional transfection efficiency—reaching approximately 90% of CICL-207's performance in splenic T-cells even at a reduced lipid ratio of 50% in LNP formulations. Additionally, CICL-238 exhibits minimal off-target expression​ in hepatocytes (<8%, comparable to CICL-207), underscoring its enhanced specificity for immune cells over liver tissues. Its optimized structure likely contributes to efficient endosomal escape and reduced Kupffer cell uptake, making it ideal for liver-related therapies​ (e.g., siRNA silencing for metabolic diseases) and potentially broadening applications to genetic medicine where precision and safety are paramount. Further validation in disease models could solidify its role as a versatile, low-toxicity alternative to benchmark lipids.
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DC52025 SM-102 Featured
SM-102 is an ionizable amino lipid that has been used in combination with other lipids in the formation of lipid nanoparticles.Administration of luciferase mRNA in SM-102-containing lipid nanoparticles induces hepatic luciferase expression in mice. Formulations containing SM-102 have been used in the development of lipid nanoparticles for delivery of mRNA-based vaccines.
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DC67558 AMG1541 Featured
AMG-1541 is a degradable cyclic amino alcohol ionizable lipid optimized for mRNA vaccine delivery using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). It features a multi-amine headgroup and hydrophobic tails, synthesized via epoxide-ester reactions with high purity (≥90%). Formulated typically with DOPE, cholesterol, and PEG-lipids, AMG 1541 LNPs have a diameter of ~85 nm, PDI of 0.107, and encapsulation efficiency of 67%, ensuring stability and efficient mRNA delivery. In vitro, it outperforms benchmarks like SM-102, showing enhanced transfection in cells such as C2C12 and PBMCs. In vivo, intramuscular administration in mice results in robust protein expression within 6 hours and induces potent immune responses, including high antibody titers and Th1-biased T-cell activation, with minimal inflammation. Mechanistically, its β-hydroxyl groups form hydrogen bonds with mRNA phosphate backbones, facilitating endosomal escape. AMG1541 degrades rapidly under enzymatic conditions, reducing long-term toxicity, and is effective for vaccines targeting pathogens like influenza and SARS-CoV-2, making it a promising candidate for clinical applications.
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DC67650 EB-Lipid
EB-Lipid is an innovatively engineered ionizable lipid designed to replace conventional PEG-lipid in mRNA vaccine formulations. Its structure comprises three key components: an Evans Blue-derived headgroup with high affinity for albumin, a tetraethylene glycol linker that enhances colloidal stability, and dual oleate tails for anchoring into lipid bilayers. This molecular design enables EB-Lipid to actively recruit endogenous albumin, forming an albumin-rich protein corona on the surface of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Following intramuscular administration, these albumin-bound EB-LNPs are preferentially transported through lymphatic vessels rather than entering the bloodstream, thereby avoiding hepatic accumulation and associated hepatotoxicity risks.Experimental data demonstrate that EB-LNPs achieve significantly higher accumulation in lymph nodes, where they are efficiently internalized by dendritic cells via albumin receptor-mediated endocytosis (e.g., gp60). This process enhances antigen presentation and activates robust cellular and humoral immune responses. In both tumor models (B16-OVA and HPV-associated) and infectious disease models (H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 Omicron), EB-LNP-based mRNA vaccines elicited potent cytotoxic T-cell activation and durable neutralizing antibody production at low doses. Unlike traditional PEG-LNPs, EB-LNPs show minimal liver distribution, reduced immunogenicity, and improved safety profiles after repeated administrations.By leveraging albumin’s natural trafficking pathway, EB-Lipid represents a transformative delivery platform that combines targeted lymph node delivery with enhanced biosafety, positioning it as a promising candidate for next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
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DC67632 Lipid GL5
GL5 is an ionizable guanidine-based lipid nanoparticle (G-LNP) designed for superior mRNA delivery. Its guanidinocarbonyl-pyrrole (GCP) headgroup enables pH-responsive behavior and strong mRNA binding via bidentate hydrogen bonds. The cholesterol-free GL5-3 formulation forms compact, stable nanoparticles (~90-120 nm) that exhibit excellent spleen-targeting capability after intravenous injection.GL5-LNPs efficiently deliver mRNA to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), enhancing antigen presentation and T cell activation. In cancer immunotherapy models, GL5-based mRNA vaccines provided complete tumor protection and induced durable immune memory. The platform also enables mRNA delivery to other organs like the pancreas via different administration routes, demonstrating remarkable versatility and therapeutic potential.
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DC67633 Lipid KEL12
(4S)-KEL12​​ is a novel, biodegradable ionizable lipid developed for advanced mRNA vaccine delivery. It was rationally designed by incorporating both a ketal group in the linker and ester segments in the hydrophobic tails, a dual-degradable strategy aimed at enhancing its safety profile. Through iterative optimization, (4S)-KEL12 was identified as a lead candidate with an optimal pKa value of approximately 6.78, which is crucial for efficient mRNA encapsulation and endosomal release.
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DC60432 DORI Featured
DORI, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2,3-bis(oleoyloxy)propan-1-aminium bromide, is an ionizable cationic lipid with lower cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency. Reagent grade, for research use only.
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DC60880 2Ac3-C18 Featured
2Ac3-C18 is a unique ionizable lipid with a distinct degradable core structure:featuring 2 acrylate units and 3 amine groups—linked to a C18 alkyl chain. Its LNPs (formulated with DOPE/cholesterol/DMG-PEG2000) exhibit spleen-specific mRNA delivery in vivo.
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DC60879 Lipid te AA3-Dlin Featured
Lipid te AA3-Dlin is a novel ionizable lipid developed for mRNA-LNP vaccines.When formulated into LNPs, te AA3-Dlin demonstrates excellent stability in serum and protects encapsulated mRNA from degradation. A key feature is its unique protein corona profile, with high ApoE abundance, which is crucial for efficient in vivo targeting, particularly to the spleen. This enables potent dendritic cell transfection, leading to enhanced antigen presentation and robust cytotoxic T-cell responses for superior antitumor immunity.
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DC86070 304-O13 Featured
304O13 is a novel Biodegradable lipidoid for RNA delivery.
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DC60848 Lipid 854 Featured
Lipid 854 is an ionizable cationic lipid that has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA in vivo. Lipid 854 has been optimized based on Lipid 88.
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DC67567 ARV-T1 Featured
ARV-T1 is a novel ionizable lipid featuring a cholesterol moiety incorporated in its tail, designed to enhance mRNA delivery efficiency. With a pKa of 6.73, it exhibits optimal pH-dependent ionization for endosomal escape and mRNA release. Structurally, ARV-T1 contains a tertiary amine head group and ester-linked lipid tails, enabling rapid in vivo metabolism and improved biocompatibility.Compared to SM-102 (used in Moderna's vaccine), LNPs formulated with ARV-T1 demonstrate superior physicochemical properties: smaller particle size (~80 nm vs. 90 nm), lower polydispersity index (0.09 vs. 0.10), and higher absolute zeta potential (-10 mV vs. -5 mV). These characteristics correlate with >90% mRNA encapsulation efficiency and enhanced stability, maintaining performance for 12 weeks at -20°C.In vitro, ARV-T1 LNPs showed 7-fold higher protein expression than SM-102 LNPs. In vivo, they prolonged luciferase expression (>72 hours vs. <48 hours for SM-102) and induced 10-fold higher neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at low doses. The cholesterol tail promotes endosomal membrane fusion, while ester linkages facilitate metabolic clearance, yielding an excellent safety profile in toxicity studies. This combination of efficacy and safety positions ARV-T1 as a promising platform for mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
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DC67605 PyCB lipid Featured
The PyCB (Pyridine Carboxybetaine) lipid is a rationally designed zwitterionic ionizable lipid that serves as a core functional component in the novel three-component (ThrCo) lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform. It is synthesized by covalently attaching a zwitterionic PyCB structure to the hydroxyl group of the clinically available ionizable lipid ALC-0315.Its key feature is its pH-responsive behavior. At physiological pH (~7.4), the PyCB headgroup exhibits zwitterionic properties, forming charge-assisted hydrogen bonds with water molecules (PyCB-H₂O complexes). This confers high hydrophilicity to the LNP surface, enhancing stability in aqueous environments and reducing nonspecific protein adsorption in the bloodstream. This zwitterionic surface effectively mimics and replaces PEGylated lipids, thereby avoiding PEG immunogenicity and the associated Accelerated Blood Clearance (ABC) effect upon repeated administrations.Crucially, in the acidic environment of endosomes (pH ~6.5), the PyCB group undergoes strong protonation, rapidly transforming into a cationic state (PyCB-H₃O⁺ complexes). This promotes efficient fusion with and disruption of the endosomal membrane, facilitating the escape and cytoplasmic release of encapsulated mRNA.By replacing both cholesterol and PEGylated lipids in traditional LNPs, PyCB lipid enables the redirection of LNP biodistribution from the liver to the spleen, achieving superior spleen-specific mRNA translation and enhancing antigen presentation for potent immune activation.
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DC60878 Lipid A-12 Featured
Lipid A-12 is an ionizable cationic lipid from Capstan Therapeutics and a close analog of CICL-1 (L829). The key structural distinction is in the headgroup spacer length, where the value of 'n' is 1 in A-12, compared to 0 in CICL-1 (L829).
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DC71687 Dlin-MeOH Featured
Dlin-MeOH is a lipid product for use in drug delivery systems.
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DC60537 C18 NC-TNP Featured
NC-TNP (noncationic thiourea lipids nanoparticles) could compress mRNA by strong hydrogen bonds interaction between thiourea groups of NC-TNP and the phosphate groups of mRNA. NC-TNP could escape the recycling pathway to inhibit the egress of internalized nanoparticles from the intracellular compartment to the extracellular milieu. NC-TNP-encapsulated mRNA shows higher gene transfection efficiency in vitro and in vivo than mRNA-LNP formulation. NC-TNP also shows spleen targeting delivery ability with higher accumulation ratio (spleen/liver), compared with traditional LNP.The C18 non-cationic thiourea lipid self-assembles into ~100 nm nanoparticles with neutral surface charge, utilizing strong hydrogen bonding between its thiourea groups and mRNA phosphate groups for efficient mRNA complexation. This delivery system demonstrates significantly enhanced EGFP expression efficiency—2.3-fold higher than standard C6/C12 formulations—in DC2.4, B16, and 4T1 cells, while sustaining luciferase activity for over 20 days post-subcutaneous injection. It exhibits exceptional stability, maintaining >94% mRNA integrity and <10% particle size variation after 30-day lyophilized storage. Importantly, the nanoparticles show pronounced spleen-targeting capability with 20-fold greater accumulation in the spleen versus liver, effectively activating twice the level of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Critically, the system avoids cationic lipid-associated toxicity, inducing no detectable IL-6/CXCL10 inflammation and causing no histopathological damage in cardiac or splenic tissues, thus establishing a novel high-efficacy, low-toxicity mRNA delivery platform.
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DC67602 ILB-3132(E12LA6B603) Featured
E12LA6B603(ILB3132,ILB-3132) is a novel ionizable amino lipid disclosed in patent WO2024198497A1, developed by MagicRNA, representing a highly efficient component for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems.When formulated into LNPs, E12LA6B603 LNP achieves a remarkable 98.26% encapsulation efficiency for mRNA. It mediates superior in vitro transfection in dendritic cells (1.8E+05 intensity) and demonstrates best-in-class in vivo protein expression after intramuscular injection (2.2E+09 intensity). Most notably, in a B16-OVA melanoma model, therapeutic OVA-mRNA vaccines delivered by E12LA6B603 LNPs induced 100% complete tumor regression, highlighting its superior efficacy over benchmarks like DLin-MC3 and SM-102. Its biodegradable ester linkages and balanced structure make it a promising, potent candidate for next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
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DC67617 iChol15-C4A2
iChol15-C4A2 is a groundbreaking ionizable cholesteryl lipid, expertly designed to overcome the primary challenge of liver-centric accumulation in mRNA therapeutics. Its innovative "two-in-one" structure seamlessly integrates cholesterol with an ionizable headgroup, enabling the formation of stable, three-component Lipid Nanoparticles (Tc-LNPs).The key advantage of Tc-LNPs formulated with iChol15-CA2 is their significantly reduced adsorption of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE).This unique property directly attenuates ApoE/LDLR-mediated uptake by liver cells, dramatically shifting biodistribution toward extrahepatic tissues. Peer-validated research demonstrates a remarkable 20-50 fold increase in the spleen-to-liver mRNA expression ratio compared to standard LNPs like ALC-0315, unlocking unparalleled potential for targeting the immune system. Beyond its superior targeting capability, iChol15-C4A2 ensures high mRNA encapsulation efficiency, excellent colloidal stability, and proven biocompatibility. It offers a powerful, off-the-shelf solution to advance next-generation mRNA applications, from innovative vaccines and cancer immunotherapies to treatments for splenic disorders. Discover how iChol15-C4A2 can transform your delivery platform.
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DC67618 GVS-18-B35
GVS-18-B35 is a leading silicon ether-based ionizable lipid that demonstrates exceptional performance in mRNA delivery. It features a biodegradable silyl ether linkage, which undergoes rapid, non-enzymatic hydrolysis, enabling near-complete clearance from the liver within 24 hours in both mice and non-human primates (NHPs). This degradation mechanism is independent of variable enzymatic activity, ensuring consistent pharmacokinetics across species. In vivo, GVS-18-B35 lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) achieve superior liver-specific protein expression with minimal off-target accumulation in the spleen, resulting in a high liver-to-spleen signal ratio and reduced immune stimulation. The LNPs exhibit excellent stability under frozen storage (-80°C) and maintain critical quality attributes, including particle size, polydispersity, and encapsulation efficiency, through multiple freeze-thaw cycles. With an optimal pKa (~6.3) and enhanced endosomal escape capability, GVS-18-B35 represents a robust and versatile platform for mRNA therapeutics, particularly suited for applications requiring frequent dosing due to its unique combination of high potency and rapid clearance profile.
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