Cytofectin dimers and methods of use thereof

A pharmaceutical kit for use in delivering a polynucleotide to a vertebrate, said kit comprising:

• a cationic compound of the formula
• wherein
• Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are the same or different and are —O—C(O)— or —O—;
• R1 and R2 are the same or different and are H, C1 to C24 alkyl or C1 to C24 alkenyl;
• R3 and R4 are the same or different and are C1 to C24 alkyl or C1 to C24 alkenyl;
• R5, R6, R7 and R8 are the same or different and are H, C1 to C10 alkyl or C1 to C10 alkenyl;
• R9 is a linker, wherein said linker comprises
• C1 to C10 substituted alkyl;
• C1 to C10 alkyloxy;
• C1 to C10 substituted alkyloxy;
• C1 to C10 alkenyl;
• C1 to C10 substituted alkenyl;
• C1 to C10 alkenyloxy;
• C1 to C10 substituted alkenyloxy;
• —NR10—C(O)—NR11, wherein R10 and R11 are independently H, C1 to C10 alkyl, C1 to C10 substituted alkyl, C1 to C10 alkenyl, or C1 to C10 substituted alkenyl;
• —NR12—C(O)—NR13-R16—NR14—C(O)—NR15, wherein R12-R15 are independently H, C1 to C10 alkyl, substituted C1 to C10 alkyl, C1 to C10 alkenyl, or C1 to C10 substituted alkenyl, and R16 is independently C1 to C10 alkyl or C1 to C10 substituted alkyl;
• —C(O)—NR17, wherein R17 is H, C1 to C10 alkyl, C1 to C10 substituted alkyl, C1 to C10 alkenyl, and C1 to C10 substituted alkenyl;
• polyalkyloxy group;
• amino acid;
• peptide;
• saccharide;
• polypeptide;
• polysaccharide;
• protein;
• polyamine;
• peptidomimetic moiety;
• histone;
• moiety with DNA binding affinity;
• or moiety with cell receptor binding affinity.
• n and m are the same or different and are 1 to 8;
• and
• X and Y are the same or different and are non-toxic anions.;
• optionally co-lipid;
• optionally a polynucleotide;
• one or more containers, wherein said cationic compound, said optional co-lipid, and said optional polynucleotide are in the same or different said one or more containers;
• and
• optionally means for administering to a vertebrate said cationic compound, said optional co-lipid, and said optional poylnucleotide.