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
DC67538	XH-04 Featured	XH-04 is an ionizable lipid engineered for advanced mRNA delivery developed by JiaChen West Lake Biotech. Its core structure features a central benzene ring with asymmetric hydrophobic tails (C9-C10 chains) and pH-responsive tertiary amines that enable efficient mRNA encapsulation and endosomal escape. As detailed in CN113993839A, XH04 outperforms industry benchmarks (e.g., MC3 lipid), boosting protein expression by >10-fold in BHK cells. In PCT/CN2024/121624, JiaChen further demonstrated its utility in lung-targeted LNPs (tLNP/tLCNP). When combined with cationic lipids (e.g., DOTMA at 2:1 molar ratio), XH 04 redirects >80% of mRNA delivery to murine lungs—overcoming liver tropism—while maintaining low toxicity. The lipid’s benzenic core and optimized alkyl chain geometry (patent claims 1-9) are credited for enhanced endosomal disruption and mRNA release kinetics. JiaChen’s innovations position XH-04 as a cornerstone for next-generation mRNA therapeutics. More description
DC12381	DLin-KC2-DMA Featured	DLin-KC2-DMA is a highly potent ionizable lipid used in the formulation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of siRNA. It represents a significant advancement over earlier generations of lipids, such as DLin-DMA, due to its dramatically improved gene silencing efficiency. More description
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. More description
DC67280	Lipid 35	Lipid 35 is an novel ionizable lipid designed to enhance the delivery of mRNA to specific tissues, particularly the lungs.Lipid 35 demonstrates superior chemical stability, especially in storage conditions. This stability ensures that the lipid maintains its integrity over extended periods, making it ideal for long-term storage and large-scale production.Lipid 35 exhibits high transfection efficiency in various cell types, including nonimmune cells, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells. Lipid 35 has demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and safety in preclinical studies. It does not cause significant liver damage or adverse immune responses, making it a safer alternative for therapeutic applications. More description
DC33580	DODMA Featured	DODMA, also known as MBN 305A is a a cationic lipid containing the unsaturated long-chain (18:1) oleic acid inserted at both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions. It has been used in the composition of lipospomes formulated as stable nucleic acid lipid particles that can encapsulate siRNA or other small molecules to be used for drug delivery More description
DC60495	9322-O16B Featured	9322-O16B is a lipidoid for the efficient delivery of antiCD19 mRNA CAR to murine primary macrophages. LNP 9322-O16B is more efficient than delivery with lipofectamine 2000 (LPF2K) or MC3. More description
DC60578	TE-EP8-S	TE-EP8-S is a single-component, ionizable cationic lipid designed specifically for the targeted delivery of mRNA to T cells within the spleen. This innovative lipid formulation enhances the efficiency and precision of mRNA-based therapies by ensuring optimal cellular uptake and expression in immune cells. Its unique structure and properties make it a promising tool for advancing immunotherapeutic applications. More description
DC53130	93-O17S Featured	93-O17S is an imidazole-based synthetic lipidoid for in vivo mRNA delivery. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with 93-O17S promotes both the cross-presentation of tumor antigens and the intracellular delivery of cGAMP (STING agonist). More description
DC82301	IC-8(lipid MIC5) Featured	IC8 is an ionizable cationic lipid. It has been used in combination with other lipids for the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Immunization with severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein mRNA in IC8- and manganese-containing LNPs induces IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in mice.1 Administration of mRNA encoding B7-H3 X CD3 bispecific T cell engaging (BiTE) antibodies in IC8-containing LNPs reduces tumor growth in MV4-11 and A375 mouse xenograft models. More description
DC31000	LP-01 Featured	LP-01 is an ionizable cationic amino lipid (pKa = ~6.1). It has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs containing LP-01 and encapsulating both Cas9 mRNA and modified single-guide RNA (sgRNA) for the transport protein transthyretin (Ttr) induce gene editing in liver cells in mice in a dose-dependent manner resulting in reduced serum Ttr levels for at least 12 months. More description
DC60855	4A3-SC7 Featured	4A3-SC7 is a proprietary, ionizable lipid component central to the SORT LNP platform developed for targeted organ delivery. It features a unique branched-tail structure designed to enhance mRNA encapsulation and endosomal escape. In the study, it served as the primary ionizable lipid in both Liver SORT LNPs and updated Lung SORT LNPs. For liver targeting, it was formulated at 15.04 mol% alongside helper lipids (DOPE: 23.04%, Cholesterol: 38.72%), PEG-lipid (DMG-PEG2000: 3.2%), and the liver-targeting lipid 4A3-Cit (20 mol%). This specific composition (Total lipid:RNA = 20:1 wt/wt) yielded LNPs with ~74 nm size, low PDI (0.17), and high encapsulation efficiency (87%) for large mRNAs like ABE editors (~5000 nt). Its branched-tail architecture was critical for stabilizing nanoparticles encapsulating large RNAs, overcoming a key limitation of previous formulations. 4A3-SC7-based Liver SORT LNPs enabled >40% base editing in hepatocytes in vivo, achieving durable correction of the disease-causing SERPINA1 mutation in PiZ mice and significantly reducing pathological protein aggregates. In the updated DualSORT system, 4A3-SC7 was also paired with DORI (instead of DOTAP) for improved lung targeting, demonstrating its versatility as a foundational ionizable lipid for multi-organ gene editing therapeutics. More description
DC10800	DLin-MC3-DMA Featured	D-Lin-MC3-DMA(MC3) is the most potent cationic lipid that has been synthesized for Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver the siRNA. More description
DC49882	CKK-E12 Featured	CKK-E12 is a ionizable lipid in combination with other lipids make up the lipid nanoparticles which are used to deliver RNA-based therapeutics. cKK-E12 was highly selective toward liver parenchymal cell in vivo.Multitail lipids usually have three or more tails and tend to form more cone-shaped structures due to the increase of tail crosssection, which enhances the endosome escape and mRNA delivery efficiency.CKK-E12 is an ionizable lipid with four lipid tails and diketopiperazine core-based head. It has shown excellent efficiency in delivering CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA.cKK-E12 iLNPs encapsulated mRNA was used to investigate the effect of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on iLNPsmediated mRNA delivery, and it has been demonstrated that the targeting, safety and efficacy of iLNPs are closely related to disease state. In other words, even though iLNP delivers therapeutic mRNA to a given cell type in one disease state, it is not guaranteed to deliver mRNA to the same cell type in another disease. As same as MC3 and C12-200, CKK-E12 is also used to be a positive control ionizable lipid when exploiting new ionizable lipids. More description
DC86601	Lipid 8 Featured	Lipid 8 iLNPs were used to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA which targeted to the PLK1 gene. The safety and excellent intracerebral diffusion performance of lipid 8 iLNPs ensured that the survival of murine glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) mice was extended. The median survival was extended by approximately 50% and the overall survival was increased by 30%. The treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma was executed by the EGFRtargeted lipid 8 iLNPs. These iLNPs possessed the ability of tumor targeting, which could increase the accumulation of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA within the tumor cells. After a single intraperitoneal administration, 80% PLK1 gene was edited and the overall survival of mice with high-grade ovarian cancer malignant ascites was enhanced by 80% . These results demonstrate the clinical potential of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system can be delivered by iLNPs for treating tumors, and provide new ideas for tumor gene therapy. More description
DC67546	ALC-0307 Featured	ALC 0307 is an ionizable amino lipid developed by Acuitas Therapeutics, serving as the critical functional component in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for targeted therapeutic delivery. As the core cationic lipid in specific LNP formulations (e.g., k-abe for CPS1-Q335X correction), its key feature is pH-dependent chargeability: it remains neutral at physiological pH but becomes positively charged in acidic environments like endosomes. This property enables efficient encapsulation of nucleic acid payloads (>97% efficiency, e.g., base editor mRNA/gRNA complexes) and facilitates endosomal escape via membrane disruption post-cellular uptake. Its optimized structure promotes selective hepatocyte targeting by binding endogenous apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which subsequently interacts with LDL receptors on liver cells. Preclinical studies show rapid clearance (>99.5% plasma reduction in 14 days) and manageable transient toxicity (mild, reversible cytoplasmic vacuolation in hepatocytes, short-term ALT/AST elevation). LNPs containing ALC0307, alongside helper lipids (cholesterol, DSPC, and PEG-lipid ALC-0159), form stable ~73 nm particles with low polydispersity. This combination enables repeatable, liver-directed delivery of gene editing therapeutics with minimized off-target effects, underpinning its use in individualized in vivo gene correction therapies. More description
DC57006	L319 Featured	L319 (LIPID 319) is a novel ionizable, biodegradable lipid for delivery of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). L319-LPN displays rapid elimination with pKa of 6.38 and also shows well tolerated up to 10 mg/kg. More description
DC71034	EDMPC Featured	EDMPC, a cationic lipid, has an enhanced ability to deliver DNA to pulmonary tissues. EDMPC mediates intralobar DNA delivery to rodents. More description
DC65856	Lipid C3 Featured	Lipid C3 is an ionizable cationic lipid (pKa = 5.05-5.671).1,2 It has been used in the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA in vitro and in vivo. More description
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. More description
DC86120	EA-PIP（LIPID 10） Featured	Lipid 10 is a novel ionizable cationic lipid be used for delivery of therapeutic RNA to the Bone Marrow in Multiple Myeloma Using CD38-Targeted with Lipid 10-LNP. More description
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. More description
DC60927	Lipid 2298 Featured	Lipid 2298 is a novel ionizable lipid developed by Sai Biomedicine demonstrates excellent performance with a spleen-to-liver ratio of 3.448 and a very high total expression level of 2.4E+07. Lipid 2298 offers a strong balance of efficient systemic protein production and clear preferential delivery to the spleen. More description
DC60910	CL15F 7-5 Featured	CL15F 7-5 is a piperidine-based ionizable lipid from the CL15F library, characterized by a symmetrically branched tail structure with a 7-carbon main chain and a 5-carbon side chain. This moderate tail length positions it between short-tail (e.g., CL15F 6-4) and long-tail (e.g., CL15F 14-12) variants, granting it a unique balance in mRNA delivery properties. Its LNPs exhibit optimized organ selectivity, enabling significant mRNA expression in both the spleen and muscle, as demonstrated by in vivo luciferase assays following intravenous and intramuscular administration. This lipid structure facilitates a favorable DSPC surface density on LNPs, which moderates interactions with serum proteins like ApoE, thereby reducing rapid hepatic clearance and promoting extrahepatic delivery. In vaccine applications, CL15F 7-5 LNPs encapsulating SARS-CoV-2 RBD mRNA elicited robust anti-RBD IgG titers and neutralizing antibodies in mice, outperforming the clinically benchmarked SM-102 lipid. The piperidine headgroup further contributes to storage stability by minimizing the generation of aldehyde impurities that can form mRNA-lipid adducts. Consequently, CL15F 7-5 represents a versatile lipid for developing stable, spleen-targeted mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, leveraging tail-length engineering for enhanced efficacy without complex formulation changes. More description
DC60917	BHD-C2C2-PipZ Featured	BHD-C2C2-PipZ, as an efficient ionizable cationic lipid, achieves high encapsulation efficiency and controllable release of mRNA through its unique chemical structure. In PEG-free 3P-LNPs, its electrostatic interaction with tripolyphosphate successfully replaces the steric stabilization effect of traditional PEG, offering a new strategy to circumvent PEG immunogenicity. Its hepatic distribution pattern further indicates that LNP design should take into account the heterogeneity of the organ microenvironment. More description
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 structure was modified by the extension of the headgroup linker from a two-carbon (C2) to a three-carbon (C3) spacer compared to CICL-1 (L829). More description
DC67990	4A3-LNSC8 Featured	4A3-LNSC8 is a strategically designed thiourea-functionalized ionizable lipid that serves as the foundational core for a novel anion-coordination delivery platform. Its structure features a central 4A3 amine headgroup symmetrically extended with four hydrophobic tails, each incorporating a biodegradable ester linkage and a key thiourea-bridged linker. The inclusion of the thiourea group is the pivotal innovation, as it provides specific hydrogen-bonding sites capable of interacting with various halide anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, I⁻). When formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) without anion coordination, 4A3-LNSC8 itself exhibits a characteristic liver tropism, efficiently delivering mRNA to hepatocytes following systemic administration, with a measured surface pKa of approximately 5.54. However, its primary significance lies in its role as a versatile precursor. The strong anion-binding capability of its thiourea linkers allows for predictable modulation of the LNP's properties. Upon binding with anions like Cl⁻, the resulting complex (e.g., Cl-4A3-LNSC8) undergoes a significant pKa shift, which reprograms the LNP's in vivo fate, redirecting mRNA delivery from the liver to secondary lymphoid organs such as the spleen and lymph nodes. Thus, 4A3-LNSC8 is not merely an efficient ionizable lipid but a programmable scaffold that enables precise control over organ-targeting specificity through simple anion coordination, offering a powerful rational design strategy for advanced mRNA therapeutics. More description
DC67989	Cl-4A3-LNSC8 Featured	Cl-4A3-LNSC8 represents a novel class of thiourea-functionalized ionizable lipids engineered for selective organ-targeted mRNA delivery. Its core innovation lies in an anion-coordination strategy, where the parent lipid, 4A3-LNSC8, binds chloride ions (Cl⁻) via hydrogen-bonding interactions with its thiourea groups. This binding event is not merely structural but functionally critical, as it induces a significant shift in the surface pKa of the resulting lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) from approximately 5.54 to 8.79. This pKa modulation is the key mechanism that redirects the organotropism of the LNPs upon systemic administration. While the unmodified 4A3-LNSC8 LNPs preferentially deliver mRNA to the liver, Cl-4A3-LNSC8 LNPs effectivelyreprogram this tropism, enabling highly efficient mRNA delivery to secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), particularly the spleen and lymph nodes. This platform demonstrates remarkable efficacy, achieving up to 65.7% gene editing efficiency in splenic macrophages in vivo, significantly outperforming benchmark delivery systems. Furthermore, by leveraging the coordination with different halides, such as iodine for computed tomography (CT) contrast, the system can be adapted for dual-modal theranostic applications, enabling simultaneous lymphatic metastasis imaging and therapeutic mRNA delivery. More description
DC67812	CL15F 6-4 Featured	CL15F 6-4 is a short-tail ionizable lipid from the piperidine-based CL15F series, characterized by its symmetric branched structure with a 6-carbon main chain and 4-carbon side chain. This specific tail length critically determines the lipid nanoparticle's (LNP) properties, resulting in larger particles with a high surface density of the phospholipid DSPC. This elevated DSPC density reduces interactions with serum proteins like ApoE, minimizing rapid liver clearance and shifting mRNA delivery preference towards the spleen. Consequently, CL15F 6-4 LNPs achieve efficient, endogenous spleen-targeted delivery, making them a highly promising candidate for enhancing vaccine efficacy by preferentially transfecting antigen-presenting cells without complex functionalization. More description
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. More description
DC68039	CHCha-10 Featured	CHCha-10 is an amino acid-derived ionizable lipid engineered for pulmonary gene therapy. Its optimal surface charge (-0.126 mV) enables efficient mucus penetration, while a pKa of ~7.0 facilitates endosomal escape. Its unique conical structure promotes membrane fusion and mRNA release. In animal models, CHCha-10-based LNPs achieved highly efficient and specific editing of lung epithelial cells, particularly stem-like basal cells (~44%), with effects persisting through tissue renewal. It also demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety in ferrets, a model closely mimicking human lung physiology. More description

Cationic/Ionizable Lipids

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