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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
DC60566 Lipid CAD9 (3-A2-7b)
Lipid CAD9 (3-A2-7b is a cationic degradable (CAD) lipid. 3-A2-7b formulated LNP, LNP-CAD9, can deliver FLuc mRNA to the lungs in vivo. LNP-CAD9 co-delivering Cas9 mRNA/VEGFR2 single guide RNA (sgRNA) effectively induces VEGFR2 knock out in lung endothelial cells of female mice.
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DC60838 A3T2C7 (CP-LC-1495)
A3T2C7 (CP-LC-1495) is a biodegradable ionizable lipid featuring three β-propionate linkers and an azetidine polar head, formulated in four-component LNPs. It demonstrates exceptional lung-targeted mRNA delivery with 97.1% selectivity and high protein expression (1.21×10⁸ p/s) in mice. Its slightly positive zeta potential (~3.5 mV) correlates with lung tropism, likely mediated by protein corona enrichment of vitronectin and prothrombin. The β-propionate structure enables pH-sensitive biodegradability for enhanced endosomal escape while maintaining low cytotoxicity (>90% cell viability). This lipid enables organ-specific mRNA delivery without permanently charged additives, outperforming conventional SORT strategies in selectivity and expression efficiency.
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DC67565 IAJD249
IAJD 294 is a ​​single-component ionizable amphiphilic Janus dendrimer​​ that autonomously coassembles with mRNA via simple injection into uniform monodisperse dendrimersome nanoparticles (DNPs, 85 nm diameter, PDI<0.2), eliminating complex multi-component formulations. Its optimized ​​3,5-benzoyl ester linkage​​ and symmetric hydrophobic tails enable ​​dual-organ targeting​​: ​Spleen​​: 2.97 × 10⁷ RLU (50% of total activity) ​​Lymph nodes​​: 10⁶ RLU (10× higher than IAJD 87) through ​​partial hydrophobic interdigitation​​ (stabilizing DNPs for enhanced lymphatic uptake) and ​​pKa ~6.5​​ (facilitating endosomal escape), validating constitutional isomerism for precision delivery.
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DC67315 Lipid AA15
The AA15 lipid, an amino acid-derived ionizable lipid, integrates a carboxylic acid-containing headgroup and biodegradable branched ester tails (R2) to enhance mRNA delivery. Optimized as AA15V LNP, it exhibits a hydrodynamic diameter of 102.3 ± 4.1 nm, low polydispersity (PDI <0.15), and slightly positive zeta potential (+4–6 mV), enabling efficient tumor-targeted delivery. With a pKa ~6.1–6.4, AA15V ensures protonation in acidic endosomes, promoting mRNA release. It achieves >85% mRNA encapsulation efficiency, critical for stable saRNA delivery. In vitro, AA15V LNP-sSE-SCTs induced sustained SE-SCT expression (69% H-2Kb+β2m+ B16F10 cells at 72 h), outperforming mRNA formulations. In vivo, a single intratumoral dose of AA15V LNP-sSE-SCTs suppressed tumor growth by 22-fold in vaccinated mice, synergizing with checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1/CTLA-4) for complete regression in 28.6% of lymphoma models. Ex vivo, AA15V enabled SE-SCT expression in human glioblastoma (7.1% CD45− cells) and lung cancer samples (5.8–8.7%), underscoring clinical potential. Key data: pKa ~6.3; encapsulation: 85–89%; zeta: +4–6 mV; size: 102.3 ± 4.1 nm. 
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DC67517 Westgene lipid 8
Westgene lipid 8 is a cationic lipid featuring a tertiary amine core with three alkyl chains (C1-C15) and two unsaturated C18 linoleate-like tails. Its ionizable amine enables pH-dependent charge for mRNA encapsulation in LNPs. Key structural elements include branched alkyl groups (X1/X2: C4, X3: C2) and ester-linked unsaturated R1/R2 chains, enhancing membrane fusion and endosomal escape. N Used in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with DOPE, cholesterol, and PEG-DMG, it demonstrates low cytotoxicity, high mRNA delivery efficiency, and spleen-targeted immune activation, making it suitable for vaccine/therapeutic delivery.
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DC60684 Lipid I97
Lipid I97 is a vitamin B5-derived ionizable lipid for mRNA vaccine delivery. Lipid I97 LNP specifically delivers the mRNA to the spleen and lymph nodes in model mice, induces balanced Th1/Th2 immune responses, and elicits the production of high levels of neutralizing antibodies with low toxicity.
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DC60828 YK-TLR-001 Featured
YK-TLR-001 is a cyclic acetal-based ionizable lipid for mRNA delivery. YK-TLR-001 LNPs are demonstrated to enhance mRNA expression in the spleens and to induce exceptional maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and to promote antigen presentation.
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DC13058 E8i-200
E8i-200 is a novel Branched Endosomal Disruptor (BEND) ionizable lipid, designed to enhance the efficiency of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in drug delivery, particularly for mRNA and protein delivery. Its unique structure, featuring terminal branching, improves endosomal escape, a critical step in the delivery of therapeutic cargo into cells.E8i-200 is designed to enhance endosomal escape, a key bottleneck in mRNA and protein delivery. Its terminal branching structure provides several advantages:Improved Endosomal Membrane Penetration: The branched structure allows E8i-200 to more effectively disrupt endosomal membranes, facilitating the release of mRNA and proteins into the cytoplasm.Enhanced Gene Editing Efficiency: E8i-200 has been shown to significantly improve the delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, enabling efficient gene editing in vivo.E8i-200 significantly enhanced mRNA expression in the liver, outperforming traditional linear lipids like C12-200 in mouse models.E8i-200 effectively delivered CRISPR-Cas9 RNP complexes, achieving high editing efficiency in the liver, surpassing that of linear lipids.E8i-200 also showed high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity in T cells, making it a promising candidate for CAR-T cell engineering and other immunotherapies.
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DC60664 Si12-C10
Si12-C10 is a siloxane-incorporated lipid for spleen-targeting mRNA delivery. The siloxane moieties enhance cellular internalization of mRNA-LNPs and improve their endosomal escape capacity, augmenting their mRNA delivery efficacy.
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DC60841 Lipid F11T6
F11T6 is a next-generation lipid nanoparticle (LNP) optimized for ultra-efficient neuron-targeted mRNA delivery, featuring a dual-tetrahydrofuran (THF) core and four pH-responsive acetal tails. Its unique bis-THF architecture enhances lipid bilayer stability and promotes brain-specific biodistribution, achieving ​​16.4% GFP+ neurons​​ in vivo—the highest reported among CNS-targeting LNPs. Cryo-EM reveals a compact spherical structure (Ø~150 nm) with 93.2% mRNA encapsulation efficiency, while THF-acetal synergy enables rapid endosomal escape (Pearson coefficient: 0.16 vs. 0.27 for F10T5). Preclinical studies show F11T6 leverages meningeal lymphatic transport for brain accumulation, yielding ​​13.0% neuron-specific tdTomato expression​​ in Ai14 mice, surpassing F10T5 (8.93%) and SM102 (0.1%). Mechanistically, the dual-THF core strengthens interactions with lipoprotein receptors on brain endothelial cells, whereas acetal tails undergo acid-triggered hydrolysis in endosomes, releasing mRNA into the cytoplasm. Despite slightly higher liver/spleen accumulation than F10T5, toxicology assessments confirm no hepatorenal toxicity (BUN/ALT/AST within normal ranges) or histopathological changes. Co-localization analyses demonstrate superior penetration into deep brain regions like the hippocampus, critical for treating neurodegenerative disorders. With a LogD of 12.3, F11T6 balances lipid solubility and biodegradability, outperforming clinical benchmarks in both efficiency (40× SM102) and neuron specificity. This platform holds transformative potential for delivering CRISPR-Cas9, siRNA, or neurotrophic factors, particularly in diseases demanding high-dose CNS transfection with minimal off-target effects.
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DC60466 Lipid H9
H9 is a new ionizable lipid driven from AI-Guided Ionizable Lipid Engineering (AGILE) platform for mRNA delivery. H9 LNPs shows superior mRNA transfection potency compared to LNPs containing (D-Lin-MC3-DMA).
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DC82115 BAMP-TK-12
BAMP-TK-12 is ROS‐degradable lipid used for gene/RNA delivery.
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DC60483 LIS10W
LIS10W is a sugar-alcohol-derived ionizable lipid with L-sorbitol as the precursor.
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DC88888 Lipidoid XMaN6
Lipidoid XMaN6 is an ionizable lipid with universality was screened out from the adamantyl-based ionizable lipid series, which could functionally deliver highly diverse types of nucleic acids.
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DC65427 BP-28079
Bis(N-2-ethoxyethyl 2-hexyldecanoate)amine is a cationic lipid-like PEG compound containing a polar alcohol head group, four hydrophobic tails bound by esters, and a tertiary amine linker. The hydrophilic PEG linker increases the water solubility of the compound in aqueous media. Reagent grade, for research purpose. Please contact us for GMP-grade inquiries.
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DC60670 CL4F11-ζ-2
CL4F11_ζ-2 is an ionizable lipid for hepatic delivery of CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoprotein (RNP). CL4F11_ζ-2 LNP shows an extremely strong inhibitory effect of serum TTR protein levels compared with all the approved ionizable lipids including DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3), SM-102, and ALC-0315.
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DC60662 Si6-C14b
Si6-C14b is a siloxane-incorporated lipid for livertargeting mRNA delivery. The siloxane moieties enhance cellular internalization of mRNA-LNPs and improve their endosomal escape capacity, augmenting their mRNA delivery efficacy.
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DC13056 E4i-200
E4i-200 is a branched ionizable lipid designed for efficient mRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 delivery. It features a 4-carbon (C4) lipid tail with an isopropyl (i) branch at the terminal position, enhancing its ability to disrupt endosomal membranes. The lipid is built around the 200 core, a polyamine structure (N1-(2-(4-(2-aminoethyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine), which facilitates mRNA encapsulation and delivery. E4i-200 excels in liver-targeted delivery, significantly improving mRNA translation and gene editing efficiency in vivo. In experiments, it outperformed linear lipids, achieving 1.5-fold higher liver luminescence compared to the gold standard C12-200. Its isopropyl branch promotes deeper membrane penetration, enhancing endosomal escape and cargo release. This lipid is particularly effective for hepatic gene editing, reducing target gene expression (e.g., TTR) by up to 90% in mouse models. Its modular design and low toxicity make it a promising candidate for mRNA-based therapies and CRISPR applications in the liver.
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DC60686 313oi10
313oi10 is an ionizable lipid with amine headgroups which drives LNP immunogenicity by binding to Toll-like receptor 4 and CD1d and by promoting lipid-raft formation. 313oi10 prevents the often-observed loss of efcacy in the LNP-mediated delivery of siRNA and mRNA.
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DC60685 313O13
313O13 is an ionizable lipid with amine headgroups which drives LNP immunogenicity by binding to Toll-like receptor 4 and CD1d and by promoting lipid-raft formation. 313O13 prevents the often-observed loss of efcacy in the LNP-mediated delivery of siRNA and mRNA.
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DC67314 Lipid AA2
AA2 lipid is an innovative amino alcohol-derived ionizable lipid designed for optimized mRNA delivery. Its unique structure includes a hydroxyl-containing headgroup that enhances mRNA binding through hydrogen bonds and a branched ester tail (R2) that promotes a cone-shaped architecture, facilitating efficient endosomal escape. Formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with a size of 108.6 ± 3.7 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) below 0.3, AA2 achieves high mRNA encapsulation efficiency (89.0 ± 1.4%) and an ideal pKa of approximately 6.2, ensuring effective endosomal release.In vivo studies demonstrate that AA2 LNP-encapsulated spike mRNA elicits 4.7-fold higher IgG titers and robust CD8+ T-cell responses (characterized by IFN-γ+, TNF-α+, and granzyme B+ markers) compared to SM-102/ALC-0315 LNPs. Notably, AA2 exhibits minimal off-target accumulation, with low biodistribution in the liver and spleen. Its slightly positive surface charge (+3–5 mV) enhances cellular uptake, while the biodegradable ester structure ensures metabolic clearance, reducing potential toxicity.
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DC67290 ATX-231
ATX-231 which is from Arcturus RNA delivery platform, is a novel ionizable lipid used in the formulation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of RNA.
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DC60505 IR-19-Py(A20-0l)
DC67519 Lipid SL01
SL01 is an ionizable cationic lipid compound pKa 6.31)developed by Seqirus, characterized by a biodegradable ester backbone and tertiary amine headgroup, enabling pH-dependent charge modulation. Its structure incorporates twin hydrophobic tails with unsaturated carbon chains, enhancing membrane fluidity and promoting endosomal escape. The lipid’s pKa (~6.5–7.0) optimizes nucleic acid complexation at physiological pH while minimizing cytotoxicity. SL01 demonstrates robust mRNA encapsulation efficiency (~90%) in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and facilitates intracellular delivery via endocytosis. Preclinical studies highlight its efficacy in inducing potent humoral and cellular immune responses, particularly in influenza mRNA vaccines. Its ester linkages ensure gradual metabolic clearance, reducing long-term toxicity. SL01-based LNPs exhibit stability in serum and compatibility with scalable manufacturing processes, making it a versatile candidate for therapeutic mRNA delivery.
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DC67518 Lipid SL02
SL02 is a next-generation ionizable lipid featuring a unique branched hydrophobic domain and a pH-sensitive dimethylaminoethyl headgroup(pKa 6.25)developed by Seqirus. Its asymmetric lipid tails, combining unsaturated and saturated chains, enhance LNP fusogenicity and endosomal membrane disruption. With a slightly lower pKa  than SL01, SL02 achieves efficient mRNA binding at acidic pH while maintaining neutral charge in circulation, reducing nonspecific interactions. In vitro, SL02-LNPs show superior transfection potency in BHK-V cells, attributed to improved cellular uptake and endosomal escape kinetics. In vivo, it elicits high neutralizing antibody titers (comparable to MF59-adjuvanted vaccines) and robust CD8+ T-cell activation. The lipid’s ester-based design ensures biodegradability, while PEGylation compatibility enhances colloidal stability. SL02’s tailored balance of hydrophobicity and ionization enables precise control over nanoparticle size (70–120 nm) and low polydispersity, positioning it as a leading candidate for saRNA-based vaccines and gene therapies.
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DC60797 A2C18_D5
A2C18_D5 is an optimized lipid nanoparticle (LNP) component engineered with structural modifications to enhance mRNA delivery efficiency and safety. Its design incorporates a hydrophobic head group (A2, featuring a pentyl chain) and an unsaturated C18 tail, which collectively lower its pKa to the ideal range of 6–7, enabling stable encapsulation of nucleic acids and improved endosomal escape. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that A2C18_D5 achieves mRNA delivery efficiency comparable to the clinically approved LNP benchmark MC3, while exhibiting over 200-fold higher potency than its precursor lipid (A1C11). The lipid’s reduced protonation capacity minimizes cytotoxicity and hemolytic risk, aligning with safety profiles of established LNPs. Upon intravenous administration, A2C18_D5 predominantly targets the liver and spleen, with a biodistribution profile favoring hepatic delivery. Its balanced combination of high transfection efficiency, low toxicity, and favorable pharmacokinetics positions A2C18_D5 as a promising candidate for next-generation mRNA therapeutics, including vaccines and treatments for liver-specific diseases. Further optimization of its head-tail structure highlights its versatility for tailored delivery applications.
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DC67520 nor-MC3
​​nor-MC3​​ is a novel ionizable lipid develoed by Nanovation, derived from the MC3 structural framework, characterized by two ​​C17 alkyl chains​​ (each containing two Z-geometry double bonds) conjugated to a ​​4-(dimethylamino)butanoate​​ headgroup. Synthesized via a streamlined route involving Claisen condensation of methyl linoleate, hydrolysis/decarboxylation to generate a C17 ketone, reduction to the corresponding alcohol, and final esterification with 4-(dimethylamino)butanoic acid, nor-MC3 retains the ionizable amine functionality critical for pH-dependent nucleic acid binding and endosomal escape. Compared to the benchmark lipid MC3 (C18 chains), nor-MC3 demonstrates ​​superior mRNA delivery efficiency​​ in vitro (2-fold higher luciferase expression at 10 μg/mL mRNA) and enhanced in vivo biodistribution (higher liver and spleen targeting in mice). Notably, its shortened C17 chains challenge conventional assumptions about optimal hydrophobic chain length, offering improved synthetic scalability while maintaining or exceeding MC3's encapsulation efficiency (~95%), nanoparticle size (~80 nm), and low polydispersity (PDI ~0.08). For siRNA delivery, nor-MC3 achieves comparable EC₅₀ values (0.1644 μg/mL vs. MC3’s 0.1308 μg/mL), highlighting its versatility as a next-generation lipid nanoparticle (LNP) component for nucleic acid therapeutics.
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DC60486 IAJD 288
IAJD 288(IAJD-288) is a pentaerythritol-based one-component ionizable amphiphilic Janus Dendrimer (IAJD), delivery systems for mRNA delivery.
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DC89030 SM-102 IMPURITY 1
DC67522 AZD Lipid 17 Featured
Lipid 17 is a novel, highly potent ionizable lipid designed for mRNA delivery within lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) developed by AstraZeneca . Its structure features a secondary amine head group attached to a cyclic ether moiety (specifically, the 2-oxaspiro[3.3]heptan-6-amine head group). It possesses an asymmetric tail architecture: one tail is derived from heptadecan-9-ol (a branched C17 secondary alcohol), while the other tail is a modified nonyl chain (C9) with a key ethyl branch at the 3-position. The linker connecting the head group to the tails has a length equivalent to n=3 (three methylene units) as defined in the study. This specific combination of the secondary amine cyclic ether head group, asymmetric tails, and the ethyl branch at the 3-position of the nonyl chain proved critical for its exceptional performance. When formulated into LNPs and administered intravenously in mice, Lipid 17 demonstrated a remarkable 6-fold increase in functional protein (eGFP) expression in the liver compared to the benchmark lipid MC3, with high statistical significance (P < 0.0001). This makes Lipid 17 one of the most active lipids identified in the study and a promising candidate for liver-targeted mRNA therapeutics.​​ 
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