Cationic Lipid-Nucleic Acid Salts for Stable Organic Solvent Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nucleic acid therapeutics face challenges in achieving stable, long-shelf-life formulations that can effectively deliver biologically active molecules, such as DNA and siRNA, into target tissues due to limitations in solubility and stability in aqueous and non-polar solvents, leading to inefficient intracellular delivery.

Innovation Solution

A storage-stable salt of nucleic acid and cationic lipid is developed, where cationic lipids form a water-insoluble ionic complex with nucleic acids, allowing for solubilization in organic or aprotic solvents and formation of stable precipitates that can be used in formulations for targeted intracellular delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If nucleic acids are formulated in aqueous solutions, then they maintain solubility, but they exhibit poor stability and short shelf-life

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidsolubility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the formulation system by transitioning from aqueous to non-aqueous (organic or aprotic polar) solvents. This parameter change enables nucleic acids to be formulated in a stable state with long shelf-life while maintaining solubility through the use of cationic lipids that complex with nucleic acids, allowing them to dissolve in organic solvents like dichloromethane, chloroform, and THF.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system consisting of cationic lipids complexed with nucleic acids. The cationic lipids (such as DOTAP, DOGS, or DC-Chol) form stable complexes with negatively charged nucleic acids, creating a composite that can be solubilized in organic solvents while maintaining the functional integrity of the nucleic acid payload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If nucleic acids are formulated in non-polar solvents, then they achieve solubility, but they undergo side-reactions and lose stability

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects specific organic and aprotic polar solvents (dichloromethane, chloroform, THF, DMSO) that provide appropriate solubility parameters for the cationic lipid-nucleic acid complexes while avoiding the side-reactions associated with non-polar solvents. These solvents maintain the stability of the nucleic acid structure during formulation and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional lipid formulations are used, then delivery to target tissues is attempted, but intracellular delivery efficiency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cationic lipids as intermediary carriers that mediate the delivery of nucleic acids into target cells. The cationic lipids form soluble complexes with nucleic acids in organic or aprotic polar solvents, facilitating their transport across cell membranes and into the cytoplasm, thereby significantly improving intracellular delivery efficiency compared to conventional formulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cationic lipid-nucleic acid salts demonstrate improved solubility in organic solvents and stability, enabling efficient delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids into cells, including liver, lung, and tumor tissues, with significant gene knockdown and therapeutic effects observed in preclinical studies.

Implementation Method 1

the cationic lipid molecules form a water-insoluble ionic complex with the polynucleotide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonic complex formation: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

cationic lipid molecules form a water-insoluble ionic complex with the polynucleotide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

forming stable precipitates that can be used in formulations for targeted intracellular delivery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentEP2430168B1Compositions comprising cationic amphiphiles and colipids for delivering therapeutics molecules
Publication Date: 2016.12.21 CUI KUNYUAN
  • EP2430168B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2430168B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP2430168B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

This disclosure provides compositions that are useful combined with therapeutics, and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions. The compositions are useful for delivery of agents such as nucleic acid therapeutics to cells, tissues, organs, and subjects.