Synthesis of spherical nucleic acids using lipophilic moieties

A nanostructure comprising:

• a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) comprising a core, a lipid shell having an inner surface surrounding the core and an outer surface, and an oligonucleotide linked to a lipophilic moiety wherein the oligonucleotide is functionalized to the lipid shell through interaction between the lipid shell and at least a portion of the lipophilic moiety and the oligonucleotide is oriented radially outwards, wherein the lipophilic moiety is comprised of two or more lipophilic groups and has the following structure:
• -L1-(Spacer)n-L2-(Spacer)n1-L3-X-(alkyl group)m,
• wherein L1, L2, and L3 are each linkers and independent of one another are a phosphodiester or phosphorothioate bond or short chain linkage, wherein the spacer is an oligoethylene glycol spacer, wherein n and n1 are independently 0-3, wherein at least one of n and n1 is not 0, wherein X is a doubler or trebler, the alkyl group is a C6-C30 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group and m is 2-3, wherein the doubler and trebler have the following structures, respectively: