Method for delivering nucleic acids into cells
AssigneesThe University of Tennessee Research Corporation, McMaster University
InventorsRichard M. Epand, Remo Bottega, Leaf Huang
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Abstract
A method for facilitating the transfer of nucleic acids into cells comprising preparing a mixed lipid dispersion of a cationic lipid with a co-lipid in a suitable carrier solvent. The lipid has a structure which includes a lipophilic group derived from cholesterol, a linker bond, a spacer arm including from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms in a branched or unbranched linear alkyl chain, and a cationic amino group selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amino groups. The method further comprises adding the nucleic acids to the dispersion to form a complex. The cells are then treated with the complex. There is also disclosed a novel cationic amphiphile useful for this purpose.
Claims11
A method for facilitating the transfer of nucleic acids into mammalian cells with a stable aqueous dispersion of mixed lipids which dispersion comprises:
- a cationic lipid which is a weak protein kinase C inhibitor and has a structure which includes a lipophilic group derived from cholesterol, a linker bond, selected from the group consisting of carboxy amides and carbamoyls, a spacer arm having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms in a linear branched or unbranched alkyl chain, and a cationic amino group selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amino groups, and a co-lipid selected from the groups consisting of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine
- which method comprises mixing said aqueous dispersion of mixed lipids with the nucleic acids, thereby forming a dispersion/nucleic acids complex, and
- incubating the cells to be transfected with the complex, thereby facilitating the transfer of the nucleic acids into the cells.
A method for facilitating the transfection of nucleic acids into mammalian cells which comprises incubating the cells to be transfected with a complex which comprises a mixture of nucleic acids and a stable aqueous dispersion of a cationic lipid and a co-lipid, the cationic lipid being a weak protein kinase C inhibitor and having a structure which includes a lipophilic group derived from cholesterol, a linker bond, selected from the group consisting of carboxy amides and carbamoyls, a spacer arm having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms in a linear branched or unbranched alkyl chain, and a cationic amino group selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amino groups and the co-lipid being selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.