Ionizable Lipid LNP Formulation for Stable mRNA Transfection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nucleic acid delivery systems, particularly lipid nanoparticles, face challenges in efficiently and stably delivering mRNA and siRNA to target sites within cells.

Innovation Solution

A novel ionizable lipid compound with specific structural features, including variations in L1 and L2 linkages and R1 and R2 groups, is used to formulate lipid nanoparticles that enhance delivery efficiency and stability, particularly when combined with polyethylene glycol, steroid, and neutral lipids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cationic lipid compounds are used for nucleic acid delivery, then electrostatic interaction with endosomal membrane occurs, but transfection efficiency and delivery stability remain insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery stabilityVSAvoidtransfection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of cationic lipids by varying the hydrophobic chain length (C16-C24), linker types (amide, carbamate, carbonate, urea), and headgroup compositions to optimize both transfection efficiency and delivery stability. Specific structural parameters are adjusted to achieve balanced performance in cellular uptake and endosomal escape

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines cationic lipids with other lipid components (neutral lipids, PEG-lipids, cholesterol) to form composite lipid formulations. This composite approach synergistically improves delivery stability through enhanced structural integrity while maintaining high transfection efficiency via optimized surface properties and cellular interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If lipid nanoparticle formulations are used for mRNA and siRNA delivery, then nucleic acid encapsulation is achieved, but efficient delivery to target sites within cells is challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenucleic acid encapsulationVSAvoiddelivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs lipid molecules with differentiated functional regions: hydrophobic tails for membrane integration, ionizable headgroups for pH-responsive endosomal escape, and optimized charge density for nucleic acid binding. This local functional differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of stable encapsulation and efficient intracellular delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes pH-responsive ionizable lipids that dynamically change their charge state in response to environmental pH. The lipids remain neutral at physiological pH for stable encapsulation but become positively charged in the acidic endosomal environment to facilitate membrane disruption and nucleic acid release, thereby improving delivery efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 novel lipid compound improves the stability and transfection efficiency of nucleic acid delivery, leading to a higher specific antibody response in experimental animals and effective delivery of mRNA vaccines.

Implementation Method 1

A cationic liposome is positively charged, and has electrostatic interaction with a negatively-charged membrane lipid in an endosome

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

LNPs are generally prepared from four types of lipids in a certain proportion... for delivering a bioactive substance into a body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEndocytosis:

Data Source

PatentEP4342880B1Ionizable lipid compound for nucleic acid delivery and LNP composition thereof
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 JENKEM TECH CO LTD TIANJIN
  • EP4342880B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4342880B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4342880B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are an ionizable lipid compound of formula I for nucleic acid delivery and an LNP composition thereof, which can efficiently and stably deliver a biologically active substance to a target cell or an organ. The mRNA LNP prepared by using the lipid compound as a cationic lipid has better stability and transfection efficiency, and can cause a higher specific antibody response in an experimental animal body.