Novel lipids and compositions for the delivery of therapeutics   

Abstract: The present invention provides lipids that are advantageously used in lipid particles for the in vivo delivery of therapeutic agents to cells. In particular, the invention provides lipids having the following structure:

This application claims is continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/128,253, filed on May 9, 2011, which is a national phase of International Application No. PCT/US09/63933, filed Nov. 10, 2009, which priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/113,179, filed Nov. 10, 2008; U.S. Ser. No. 61/154,350, filed Feb. 20, 2009; U.S. Ser. No. 61/171,439, filed Apr. 21, 2009; U.S. Ser. No. 61/185,438, filed Jun. 9, 2009; U.S. Ser. No. 61/225,898, filed Jul. 15, 2009; and U.S. Ser. No. 61/234,098, filed Aug. 14, 2009, the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The work described herein was carried out, at least in part, using funds from the U.S. Government under grant number HHSN266200600012C awarded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The government may therefore have certain rights in the invention.

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of therapeutic agent delivery using lipid particles. In particular, the present invention provides cationic lipids and lipid particles comprising these lipids, which are advantageous for the in vivo delivery of nucleic acids, as well as nucleic acid-lipid particle compositions suitable for in vivo therapeutic use. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of making these compositions, as well as methods of introducing nucleic acids into cells using these compositions, e.g., for the treatment of various disease conditions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Therapeutic nucleic acids include, e.g., small interfering RNA (siRNA), micro RNA (miRNA), antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, plasmids, immune stimulating nucleic acids, antisense, antagomir, antimir, microRNA mimic, supermir, U1 adaptor, and aptamer. These nucleic acids act via a variety of mechanisms. In the case of siRNA or miRNA, these nucleic acids can down-regulate intracellular levels of specific proteins through a process termed RNA interference (RNAi). Following introduction of siRNA or miRNA into the cell cytoplasm, these double-stranded RNA constructs can bind to a protein termed RISC. The sense strand of the siRNA or miRNA is displaced from the RISC complex providing a template within RISC that can recognize and bind mRNA with a complementary sequence to that of the bound siRNA or miRNA. Having bound the complementary mRNA the RISC complex cleaves the mRNA and releases the cleaved strands. RNAi can provide down-regulation of specific proteins by targeting specific destruction of the corresponding mRNA that encodes for protein synthesis.

The therapeutic applications of RNAi are extremely broad, since siRNA and miRNA constructs can be synthesized with any nucleotide sequence directed against a target protein. To date, siRNA constructs have shown the ability to specifically down-regulate target proteins in both in vitro and in vivo models. In addition, siRNA constructs are currently being evaluated in clinical studies.

However, two problems currently faced by siRNA or miRNA constructs are, first, their susceptibility to nuclease digestion in plasma and, second, their limited ability to gain access to the intracellular compartment where they can bind RISC when administered systemically as the free siRNA or miRNA. These double-stranded constructs can be stabilized by incorporation of chemically modified nucleotide linkers within the molecule, for example, phosphothioate groups. However, these chemical modifications provide only limited protection from nuclease digestion and may decrease the activity of the construct. Intracellular delivery of siRNA or miRNA can be facilitated by use of carrier systems such as polymers, cationic liposomes or by chemical modification of the construct, for example by the covalent attachment of cholesterol molecules. However, improved delivery systems are required to increase the potency of siRNA and miRNA molecules and reduce or eliminate the requirement for chemical modification.

Antisense oligonucleotides and ribozymes can also inhibit mRNA translation into protein. In the case of antisense constructs, these single stranded deoxynucleic acids have a complementary sequence to that of the target protein mRNA and can bind to the mRNA by Watson-Crick base pairing. This binding either prevents translation of the target mRNA and/or triggers RNase H degradation of the mRNA transcripts. Consequently, antisense oligonucleotides have tremendous potential for specificity of action (i.e., down-regulation of a specific disease-related protein). To date, these compounds have shown promise in several in vitro and in vivo models, including models of inflammatory disease, cancer, and HIV (reviewed in Agrawal, Trends in Biotech. 14:376-387 (1996)). Antisense can also affect cellular activity by hybridizing specifically with chromosomal DNA. Advanced human clinical assessments of several antisense drugs are currently underway. Targets for these drugs include the bcl2 and apolipoprotein B genes and mRNA products.

Immune-stimulating nucleic acids include deoxyribonucleic acids and ribonucleic acids. In the case of deoxyribonucleic acids, certain sequences or motifs have been shown to illicit immune stimulation in mammals. These sequences or motifs include the CpG motif, pyrimidine-rich sequences and palindromic sequences. It is believed that the CpG motif in deoxyribonucleic acids is specifically recognized by an endosomal receptor, toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9), which then triggers both the innate and acquired immune stimulation pathway. Certain immune stimulating ribonucleic acid sequences have also been reported. It is believed that these RNA sequences trigger immune activation by binding to toll-like receptors 6 and 7 (TLR-6 and TLR-7). In addition, double-stranded RNA is also reported to be immune stimulating and is believe to activate via binding to TLR-3.

One well known problem with the use of therapeutic nucleic acids relates to the stability of the phosphodiester internucleotide linkage and the susceptibility of this linker to nucleases. The presence of exonucleases and endonucleases in serum results in the rapid digestion of nucleic acids possessing phosphodiester linkers and, hence, therapeutic nucleic acids can have very short half-lives in the presence of serum or within cells. (Zelphati, O., et al., Antisense. Res. Dev. 3:323-338 (1993); and Thierry, A. R., et al., pp 147-161 in Gene Regulation: Biology of Antisense RNA and DNA (Eds. Erickson, R P and Izant, J G; Raven Press, NY (1992)). Therapeutic nucleic acid being currently being developed do not employ the basic phosphodiester chemistry found in natural nucleic acids, because of these and other known problems.

This problem has been partially overcome by chemical modifications that reduce serum or intracellular degradation. Modifications have been tested at the internucleotide phosphodiester bridge (e.g., using phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate or phosphoramidate linkages), at the nucleotide base (e.g., 5-propynyl-pyrimidines), or at the sugar (e.g., 2′-modified sugars) (Uhlmann E., et al. Antisense: Chemical Modifications. Encyclopedia of Cancer, Vol. X., pp 64-81 Academic Press Inc. (1997)). Others have attempted to improve stability using 2′-5′ sugar linkages (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,130). Other changes have been attempted. However, none of these solutions have proven entirely satisfactory, and in vivo free therapeutic nucleic acids still have only limited efficacy.

In addition, as noted above relating to siRNA and miRNA, problems remain with the limited ability of therapeutic nucleic acids to cross cellular membranes (see, Vlassov, et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1197:95-1082 (1994)) and in the problems associated with systemic toxicity, such as complement-mediated anaphylaxis, altered coagulatory properties, and cytopenia (Galbraith, et al., Antisense Nucl. Acid Drug Des. 4:201-206 (1994)).

To attempt to improve efficacy, investigators have also employed lipid-based carrier systems to deliver chemically modified or unmodified therapeutic nucleic acids. In Zelphati, O. and Szoka, F. C., J. Contr. Rel. 41:99-119 (1996), the authors refer to the use of anionic (conventional) liposomes, pH sensitive liposomes, immunoliposomes, fusogenic liposomes, and cationic lipid/antisense aggregates. Similarly siRNA has been administered systemically in cationic liposomes, and these nucleic acid-lipid particles have been reported to provide improved down-regulation of target proteins in mammals including non-human primates (Zimmermann et al., Nature 441: 111-114 (2006)).

In spite of this progress, there remains a need in the art for improved lipid-therapeutic nucleic acid compositions that are suitable for general therapeutic use. Preferably, these compositions would encapsulate nucleic acids with high-efficiency, have high drug:lipid ratios, protect the encapsulated nucleic acid from degradation and clearance in serum, be suitable for systemic delivery, and provide intracellular delivery of the encapsulated nucleic acid. In addition, these lipid-nucleic acid particles should be well-tolerated and provide an adequate therapeutic index, such that patient treatment at an effective dose of the nucleic acid is not associated with significant toxicity and/or risk to the patient. The present invention provides such compositions, methods of making the compositions, and methods of using the compositions to introduce nucleic acids into cells, including for the treatment of diseases.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides novel cationic lipids, as well as lipid particles comprising the same. These lipid particles may further comprise an active agent and be used according to related methods of the invention to deliver the active agent to a cell.

In one aspect, the invention provides lipids having the structure of formula I:

salts or isomers thereof, wherein:

R1 and R2 are each independently for each occurrence optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkoxy, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyloxy, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyloxy, or optionally substituted C10-C30 acyl, or -linker-ligand;

R3 is independently for each occurrence H, optionally substituted C1-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkynyl, optionally substituted alkylheterocycle, optionally substituted heterocyclealkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphate, optionally substituted phosphoalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphorothioate, optionally substituted phosphorothioalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphorodithioate, optionally substituted phosphorodithioalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphonate, optionally substituted phosphonoalkyl, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkylamino, optionally substituted di(alkyl)amino, optionally substituted aminoalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaminoalkyl, optionally substituted di(alkyl)aminoalkyl, optionally substituted hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted polyethylene glycol (PEG, mw 100-40K), optionally substituted mPEG (mw 120-40K), optionally substituted heteroaryl, or optionally substituted heterocycle, or linker-ligand;

X and Y are each independently —O—, —S—, alkylene, —N(Q)-, —C(O)—, —O(CO), —OC(O)N(Q)-, —N(Q)C(O)O—, —C(O)O, —OC(O)O—, —OS(O)(Q2)O—, or —OP(O)(Q2)O—;

Q is H, alkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl, ω-phosphoalkyl, or ω-thiophosphoalkyl;

Q1 is independently for each occurrence O or S;

Q2 is independently for each occurrence O, S, N(Q)(Q), alkyl or alkoxy;

A1, and A2 are each independently —O—, —S—, —CH2—, —CHR5—, —CR5R5—, —CHF— or —CF2—;

Z is N, or C(R3); and

m and n are each independently 0 to 5, where m and n taken together result in a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 member ring.

In another aspect, the invention provides a lipid having the structure of formula XXXV:

salts or isomers thereof, wherein:

R1 and R2 are each independently for each occurrence optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkoxy, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyloxy, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyloxy, or optionally substituted C10-C30 acyl, or -linker-ligand;

R3 is independently for each occurrence H, optionally substituted C1-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkynyl, optionally substituted alkylheterocycle, optionally substituted heterocyclealkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphate, optionally substituted phosphoalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphorothioate, optionally substituted phosphorothioalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphorodithioate, optionally substituted phosphorodithioalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphonate, optionally substituted phosphonoalkyl, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkylamino, optionally substituted di(alkyl)amino, optionally substituted aminoalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaminoalkyl, optionally substituted di(alkyl)aminoalkyl, optionally substituted hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted polyethylene glycol (PEG, mw 100-40K), optionally substituted mPEG (mw 120-40K), optionally substituted heteroaryl, or optionally substituted heterocycle, or linker-ligand; or,

each R3 taken together with the atom to which they are attached are a 3-8 membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl group or a 3-8 membered optionally substituted heterocycle group;

X and Y are each independently —O—, —S—, alkylene, —N(Q)-, —C(O)—, —O(CO)—, —OC(O)N(Q)-, —N(Q)C(O)O—, —C(O)O, —OC(O)O—, —OS(O)(Q2)O—, or —OP(O)(Q2)O—;

Q is H, alkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl, ω-phosphoalkyl, or ω-thiophosphoalkyl;

Q1 is independently for each occurrence O or S; and,

Q2 is independently for each occurrence O, S, N(Q)(Q), alkyl or alkoxy;

In another aspect, the invention provides a lipid particle (e.g., a lipid nanoparticle) comprising the lipids of the present invention. In certain embodiments, the lipid particle further comprises a neutral lipid and a lipid capable of reducing particle aggregation. In one embodiment, the lipid particle consists essentially of (i) at least one lipid of the present invention; (ii) a neutral lipid selected from DSPC, DPPC, POPC, DOPE and SM; (iii) sterol, e.g. cholesterol; and (iv) peg-lipid, e.g. PEG-DMG or PEG-DMA, in a molar ratio of about 20-60% cationic lipid: 5-25% neutral lipid: 25-55% sterol; 0.5-15% PEG-lipid. In one embodiment, the lipid of the present invention is optically pure.

In one embodiment, the lipid particle comprises at least two lipids disclosed herein. For example, a mixture of cationic lipids can be used in a lipid particle, such that the mixture comprises 20-60% of the total lipid content on a molar basis.

In additional related embodiments, the present invention includes lipid particles of the invention that further comprise therapeutic agent. In one embodiment, the therapeutic agent is a nucleic acid. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid is a plasmid, an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, a single stranded oligonucleotide, e.g. an antisense oligonucleotide, an antagomir; a double stranded oligonucleotide, e.g. a siRNA; an aptamer or a ribozyme.

In yet another related embodiment, the present invention includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising a lipid particle of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier of diluent.

The present invention further includes, in other related embodiments, a method of modulating the expression of a target gene in a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a lipid particle or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. The target gene can be a wild type gene. In another embodiment, the target gene contains one or more mutations. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises specifically modulating expression of a target gene containing one or more mutations. In particular embodiments, the lipid particle comprises a therapeutic agent selected from an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, a single stranded oligonucleotide, e.g. an antisense oligonucleotide, an antagomir; a double stranded oligonucleotide, e.g. a siRNA, an aptamer, a ribozyme. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid is plasmid that encodes a siRNA, an antisense oligonucleotide, an aptamer or a ribozyme.

In one aspect of the invention, the target gene is selected from the group consisting of Factor VII, Eg5, PCSK9, TPX2, apoB, SAA, TTR, RSV, PDGF beta gene, Erb-B gene, Src gene, CRK gene, GRB2 gene, RAS gene, MEKK gene, JNK gene, RAF gene, Erk1/2 gene, PCNA(p21) gene, MYB gene, JUN gene, FOS gene, BCL-2 gene, Cyclin D gene, VEGF gene, EGFR gene, Cyclin A gene, Cyclin E gene, WNT-1 gene, beta-catenin gene, c-MET gene, PKC gene, NFκB gene, STAT3 gene, survivin gene, Her2/Neu gene, SORT1 gene, XBP1 gene, topoisomerase I gene, topoisomerase II alpha gene, p73 gene, p21(WAF1/CIP1) gene, p27(KIP1) gene, PPM1D gene, RAS gene, caveolin I gene, MIB I gene, MTAI gene, M68 gene, mutations in tumor suppressor genes, p53 tumor suppressor gene, and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the nucleic acid is a plasmid that encodes a polypeptide or a functional variant or fragment thereof, such that expression of the polypeptide or the functional variant or fragment thereof is increased.

In yet a further related embodiment, the present invention includes a method of treating a disease or disorder characterized by overexpression of a polypeptide in a subject, comprising providing to the subject a lipid particle or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from an siRNA, a microRNA, an antisense oligonucleotide, and a plasmid capable of expressing an siRNA, a microRNA, or an antisense oligonucleotide, and wherein the siRNA, microRNA, or antisense RNA comprises a polynucleotide that specifically binds to a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide, or a complement thereof.

In another related embodiment, the present invention includes a method of treating a disease or disorder characterized by underexpression of a polypeptide in a subject, comprising providing to the subject the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention, wherein the therapeutic agent is a plasmid that encodes the polypeptide or a functional variant or fragment thereof.

In a further embodiment, the present invention includes a method of inducing an immune response in a subject, comprising providing to the subject a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention, wherein the therapeutic agent is an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide. In particular embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is provided to the patient in combination with a vaccine or antigen.

In a related embodiment, the present invention includes a vaccine comprising the lipid particle of the present invention and an antigen associated with a disease or pathogen. In one embodiment, the lipid particle comprises an immunostimulatory nucleic acid or oligonucleotide. In a particular embodiment, the antigen is a tumor antigen. In another embodiment, the antigen is a viral antigen, a bacterial antigen, or a parasitic antigen.

The present invention further includes methods of preparing the lipid particles and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, as well as kits useful in the preparation of these lipid particle and pharmaceutical compositions.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of evaluating a composition that includes an agent, e.g. a therapeutic agent or diagnostic agent, and a lipid of the present invention.

FIG. 1. Schematic representation of an optically pure lipid with conjugated targeting ligands.

FIG. 2. Schematic representation of an optically pure lipid with conjugated targeting ligands.

FIG. 3. Schematic representation of racemic lipids with conjugated targeting ligands.

FIG. 4. Shows the results of in vivo modulation of FVII gene using formulations comprising the lipids 506, 512 or 519.

FIG. 5. Schematic representation of features of the lipids of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a graph illustrating the relative FVII protein levels in animals administered with 0.05 or 0.005 mg/kg of lipid particles containing different cationic lipids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is based, in part, upon the discovery of cationic lipids that provide advantages when used in lipid particles for the in vivo delivery of a therapeutic agent. In particular, as illustrated by the accompanying Examples, the present invention provides nucleic acid-lipid particle compositions comprising a cationic lipid according to the present invention. In some embodiments, a composition described herein provides increased activity of the nucleic acid and/or improved tolerability of the compositions in vivo, which can result in a significant increase in therapeutic index as compared to lipid-nucleic acid particle compositions previously described. Additionally compositions and methods of use are disclosed that can provide for amelioration of the toxicity observed with certain therapeutic nucleic acid-lipid particles.

In certain embodiments, the present invention specifically provides for improved compositions for the delivery of siRNA molecules. It is shown herein that these compositions are effective in down-regulating the protein levels and/or mRNA levels of target proteins. Furthermore, it is shown that the activity of these improved compositions is dependent on the presence of a certain cationic lipids and that the molar ratio of cationic lipid in the formulation can influence activity.

The lipid particles and compositions of the present invention may be used for a variety of purposes, including the delivery of associated or encapsulated therapeutic agents to cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of treating diseases or disorders in a subject in need thereof, by contacting the subject with a lipid particle of the present invention associated with a suitable therapeutic agent.

As described herein, the lipid particles of the present invention are particularly useful for the delivery of nucleic acids, including, e.g., siRNA molecules and plasmids. Therefore, the lipid particles and compositions of the present invention may be used to modulate the expression of target genes and proteins both in vitro and in vivo by contacting cells with a lipid particle of the present invention associated with a nucleic acid that reduces target gene expression (e.g., an siRNA) or a nucleic acid that may be used to increase expression of a desired protein (e.g., a plasmid encoding the desired protein).

Various exemplary embodiments of the cationic lipids of the present invention, as well as lipid particles and compositions comprising the same, and their use to deliver therapeutic agents and modulate gene and protein expression are described in further detail below.

The present invention provides novel lipids having certain design features. As shown in FIG. 5, the lipid design features include at least one of the following: a head group with varying pKa, a cationic, 1°, 2° and 3°, monoamine, Di and triamine, Oligoamine/polyamine, a low pKa head groups—imidazoles and pyridine, guanidinium, anionic, zwitterionic and hydrophobic tails can include symmetric and/or unsymmetric chains, long and shorter, saturated and unsaturated chain the back bone includes Backbone glyceride and other acyclic analogs, cyclic, spiro, bicyclic and polycyclic linkages with ethers, esters, phosphate and analogs, sulfonate and analogs, disulfides, pH sensitive linkages like acetals and ketals, imines and hydrazones, and oximes.

The present invention provides novel lipids that are advantageously used in lipid particles of the present invention for the in vivo delivery of therapeutic agents to cells, including lipids having the following structure

salts or isomers thereof wherein: cy is optionally substituted cyclic, optionally substituted heterocyclic or heterocycle, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; R1 and R2 are each independently for each occurrence optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 acyl or -linker-ligand; X and Y are each independently O or S, alkyl or N(Q); and Q is H, alkyl, acyl, ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalky, ω-phosphoalkyl or ω-thiophosphoalkyl. In one embodiment, the lipid has the structure

salts or isomers thereof, wherein: R1 and R2 are each independently for each occurrence optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 acyl or -linker-ligand; X and Y are each independently O or S, alkyl or N(Q); Q is H, alkyl, acyl, alkylamino or alkylphosphate; and RA and RB are each independently H, R3, —Z′—R3, -(A2)j-Z′—R3, acyl, sulfonate or

Q1 is independently for each occurrence O or S; Q2 is independently for each occurrence O, S, N(Q), alkyl or alkoxy; Q is H, alkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalky, ω-phosphoalkyl or ω-thiophosphoalkyl; A1, A4, and A5 are each independently O, S, CH2, CHF or CF2; Z′ is O, S, N(Q) or alkyl; i and j are independently 0 to 10; and R3 is H, optionally substituted C1-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkenyl, alkylhetrocycle, alkylphosphate, alkylphosphorothioate, alkylphosphonates, alkylamines, hydroxyalkyls, ω-aminoalkyls, ω-(substituted)aminoalkyls, ω-phosphoalkyls, ω-thiophosphoalkyls, polyethylene glycol (PEG, mw 100-40K), mPEG (mw 120-40K), heteroaryl, heterocycle or linker-ligand.

In another aspect, the lipid has one of the following structures, salts or isomers thereof:

wherein:

R1 and R2 are each independently for each occurrence optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 acyl, or -linker-ligand;

R3 is independently for each occurrence H, optionally substituted C1-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkynyl, alkylhetrocycle, alkylphosphate, alkylphosphorothioate, alkylphosphorodithioate, alkylphosphonates, alkylamines, hydroxyalkyls, ω-aminoalkyls, ω-(substituted)aminoalkyls, ω-phosphoalkyls, ω-thiophosphoalkyls, optionally substituted polyethylene glycol (PEG, mw 100-40K), optionally substituted mPEG (mw 120-40K), heteroaryl, heterocycle, or linker-ligand;

R4 is independently for each occurrence H, ═O, OR3 or R3;

X and Y are each independently O, S, alkyl or N(Q);

Q is H, alkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalky, ω-phosphoalkyl or ω-thiophosphoalkyl;

Q1 is independently for each occurrence O or S;

Q2 is independently for each occurrence O, S, N(Q), alkyl or alkoxy;

A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6 are each independently O, S, CH2, CHF or CF2;

A7 is O, S or N(Q);

A8 is independently for each occurrence CH2, CHF or CF2;

A9 is —C(O)— or —C(H)(R3)—;

E and F are each independently for each occurrence O, S, N(Q), C(O), C(O)O, C(O)N, S(O), S(O)2, SS, O═N, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclic or heterocycle

Z is N, C(R3);

Z′ is O, S, N(Q) or alkyl;

k is 0, 1 or 2;

m and n are 0 to 5, where m and n taken together result in a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 member ring;

p is 1-5;

q is 0-5, where p and q taken together result in a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 member ring

i and j are 0-10; and

a and b are 0-2.

In one embodiment, X and Y can be independently (CO), O(CO), O(CO)N, N(CO)O, (CO)O, O(CO)O, a sulfonate, or a phosphate.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 are each independently for each occurrence optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkoxy, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyloxy, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyl, optionally substituted C10-C30 alkynyloxy, or optionally substituted C10-C30 acyl, or -linker-ligand.

In one embodiment, R3 is independently for each occurrence H, optionally substituted C1-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C10 alkynyl, optionally substituted alkylheterocycle, optionally substituted heterocyclealkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphate, optionally substituted phosphoalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphorothioate, optionally substituted phosphorothioalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphorodithioate, optionally substituted phosphorodithioalkyl, optionally substituted alkylphosphonate, optionally substituted phosphonoalkyl, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkylamino, optionally substituted di(alkyl)amino, optionally substituted aminoalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaminoalkyl, optionally substituted di(alkyl)aminoalkyl, optionally substituted hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted polyethylene glycol (PEG, mw 100-40K), optionally substituted mPEG (mw 120-40K), optionally substituted heteroaryl, or optionally substituted heterocycle, or linker-ligand.

In one embodiment, X and Y are each independently —O—, —S—, alkylene, —N(Q)-, —C(O)—, —O(CO)—, —OC(O)N(Q)-, —N(Q)C(O)O—, —C(O)O, —OC(O)O—, —OS(O)(Q2)O—, or —OP(O)(Q2)O—.

In one embodiment, Q is H, alkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl, ω-phosphoalkyl, or ω-thiophosphoalkyl.

In one embodiment, Q2 is independently for each occurrence O, S, N(Q)(Q), alkyl or alkoxy,

In one embodiment, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6 are each independently —O—, —S—, —CH2—, —CHR5—, —CR5R5—, —CHF— or —CF2—.

In one embodiment, Ag is independently for each occurrence —CH2—, —CHR5—, —CR5R5—, —CHF—, or —CF2—.

In one embodiment, E and F are each independently for each occurrence —O—, —S—, —N(Q)-, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)N(Q)-, —N(Q)C(O)—, —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —SS—, —O—N═, ═N—O—, arylene, heteroarylene, cycloalkylene, or heterocyclylene.

In one embodiment, Z is N, or C(R3).

In one embodiment, Z′ is —O—, —S—, —N(Q)-, or alkylene.

In one embodiment, R5 is H, halo, cyano, hydroxy, amino, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, or optionally substituted cycloalkyl.

In one embodiment, i and j are each independently 0-10.

In one embodiment, a and b are each independently 0-2. In some circumstances, R3 is ω-aminoalkyl, ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl, ω-phosphoalkyl, or ω-thiophosphoalkyl; each of which is optionally substituted. Examples of ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl groups include 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl, 3-(diisopropylamino)propyl, or 3-(N-ethyl-N-isopropylamino)-1-methylpropyl.

In one embodiment, X and Y can be independently —O—, —S—, alkylene, or —N(Q)-.

It has been found that cationic lipids comprising unsaturated alkyl chains are particularly useful for forming lipid nucleic acid particles with increased membrane fluidity. In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 comprises at least one, at least two or at least three sites of unsaturation, e.g. double bond or triple bond.

In one embodiment, only one of R1 or R2 comprises at least one, at least two or at least three sites of unsaturation.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 both comprise at least one, at least two or at least three sites of unsaturation.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 comprise different numbers of unsaturation, e.g., one of R1 and R2 has one site of unsaturation and the other has two or three sites of unsaturation.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 both comprise the same number of unsaturation sites.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 comprise different types of unsaturation, e.g. unsaturation in one of R1 and R2 is double bond and in the other unsaturation is triple bond.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 both comprise the same type of unsaturation, e.g. double bond or triple bond.

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 comprises at least one double bond and at least one triple bond.

In one embodiment, only one of R1 or R2 comprises at least one double bond and at least one triple bond.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 both comprise at least one double bond and at least one triple bond.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 are both same, e.g. R1 and R2 are both linoleyl (C18) or R1 and R2 are both heptadeca-9-enyl.

In one embodiment, R1 and R2 are different from each other.

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 and R2 is cholesterol.

In one embodiment, one of R1 and R2 is -linker-ligand.

In one embodiment, one of R1 and R2 is -linker-ligand and ligand is a lipophile.

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 comprises at least one CH2 group with one or both H replaced by F, e.g. CHF or CF2. In one embodiment, both R1 and R2 comprise at least one CH2 group with one or two H replaced by F, e.g. CHF or CF2.

In one embodiment, only one of R1 and R2 comprises at least one CH2 group with one or both H replaced by F.

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 terminates in CH2F, CHF2 or CF3. In one embodiment, both R1 and R2 terminate in CH2F, CHF2 or CF3.

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 is —(CF2)y—Z″-(CH2)y—CH3, wherein each y is independently 1-10 and Z″ is O, S or N(Q).

In one embodiment, both of R1 and R2 are —(CF2)y—Z″-(CH2)y—CH3, wherein each y is independently 1-10 and Z″ is O, S or N(Q).

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 is —(CH2)y—Z″-(CF2)y—CF3, wherein each y is independently 1-10 and Z″ is O, S or N(Q).

In one embodiment, both of R1 and R2 are —(CH2)y—Z″-(CF2)y—CF3, wherein each y is independently 1-10 and Z″ is O, S or N(Q).

In one embodiment, at least one of R1 or R2 is —(CF2)y—(CF2)y—CF3, wherein each y is independently 1-10.

In one embodiment, both of R1 and R2 are —(CF2)y—(CF2)y—CF3, wherein each y is independently 1-10.

In one embodiment,

is selected from the group consisting of:

In one embodiment, R3 is chosen from a group consisting of methyl, ethyl, polyamine, —(CH2)h-heteroaryl, —(CH2)h—N(Q)2, —O—N(Q)2, —(CH2)h—Z′—(CH2)h-heteroaryl, linker-lignad, —(CH2)h-heterocycle, and —(CH2)h—Z″-(CH2)h-heterocycle, wherein each h is independently 0-13 and Z″ is O, S or N(Q).

In one embodiment, when Z is C(R3), at least one R3 is ω-aminoalkyl or ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl.

In one embodiment, when Z′ is O, S or alkyl, at least one R3 is ω-aminoalkyl or ω-(substituted)aminoalkyl.

In one embodiment, Q is linker-ligand.

In one embodiment, ligand is fusogenic peptide.

In one embodiment, the lipid is a racemic mixture.

In one embodiment, the lipid is enriched in one diastereomer, e.g. the lipid has at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 80% or at least 70% diastereomeric excess.

In one embodiment, the lipid is enriched in one enantiomer, e.g. the lipid has at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 80% or at least 70% enantiomer excess.

In one embodiment, the lipid is chirally pure, e.g. is a single optical isomer.

In one embodiment, the lipid is enriched for one optical isomer.

Where a double bond is present (e.g., a carbon-carbon double bond or carbon-nitrogen double bond), there can be isomerism in the configuration about the double bond (i.e. cis/trans or E/Z isomerism). Where the configuration of a double bond is illustrated in a chemical structure, it is understood that the corresponding isomer can also be present. The amount of isomer present can vary, depending on the relative stabilities of the isomers and the energy required to convert between the isomers. Accordingly, some double bonds are, for practical purposes, present in only a single configuration, whereas others (e.g., where the relative stabilities are similar and the energy of conversion low) may be present as inseparable equilibrium mixture of configurations.

Another embodiment is a lipid (e.g., a cationic lipid) of the formula IV′:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

R1 and R2 are independently optionally substituted C10-C30 alkyl or optionally substituted C10-C30 alkenyl; and

X and Y are independently hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl (e.g., methyl), or X and Y together with the nitrogen atom to which they are directly bound form a mono- or bi-cyclic heterocycle (e.g., a 4 to 7 member monocyclic heterocycle).

In one embodiment of the lipid of formula IV′, R1 and R2 are independently unsubstituted C10-C30 alkyl or unsubstituted C10-C30 alkenyl. In another embodiment of the lipid of formula IV′, R1 and R2 are independently unsubstituted C10-C30 alkyl. In another embodiment of the lipid of formula IV′, R1 and R2 are independently unsubstituted C10-C30 alkenyl.

In one embodiment of the lipid of formula IV′, X and Y together are —(CH2)n— where n is 4 to 6.

For example, the lipid of formula IV′ can be

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