Alternate TextTo enhance service speed and avoid tariff delays, we've opened a US warehouse. All US orders ship directly from our US facility.
Home > RNA Delivery > Cationic/Ionizable Lipids

Cationic/Ionizable Lipids

In the past five years, DC Chemicals has focused on research and development in the RNA delivery field, successfully developing over 500 cationic lipid structures and maintaining an inventory of over 200 cationic lipids. We collaborate with leading gene delivery companies and research institutions worldwide, and our products and services have received widespread acclaim.
DC Chemicals has accumulated substantial experience in the synthesis of lipids, particularly for highly complex lipid molecules. Our unique chemical synthesis and purification processes often circumvent patented and literature-reported routes, allowing us to design new synthetic routes that yield lipid molecules with higher purity than those reported in literature and patents. Our representative molecules, such as LP-01, SM-102, ALC-0315, and DLIN-MC3-DMA, have purities exceeding 98% as tested by CAD-HPLC, placing them among the top purity products available.We have the capability to scale production from grams to kilograms.


Cationic ionizable lipids play a major role in the LNP formulation and its ability to transfect target cells with its cargo. The ionizable lipids are used to complex negatively charged nucleic acid cargo. The mRNA-cationic lipid complex fuses with the cell membrane and is then delivered into the cytosol. To be able to play these roles efficiently, a cationic ionizable lipid must be engineered with a suitable apparent acid dissociation constant (pKa). The apparent pKa of a cationic ionizable lipid is the likely pKa at the LNP surface. Currently, the cationic ionizable lipids in FDA-approved therapeutics all have an apparent pKa between 6-7. This is crucial for the cationic ionizable lipid to maintain a neutral charge while in systemic circulation (pH above the pKa of the lipid, pH ~7.5), as well as its ability to become positively charged in the endosome (pH ~6.5) and facilitate membrane fusion and subsequent cytosolic release.
You can also try the following methods, and our professionals will serve you Customized Consultation
Cat. No. Product Name Field of Application Chemical Structure
DC57100 1,19-Bis(2-butyloctyl) 10-[[3-(dimethylamino) propyl](1-oxononyl)amino]nonadecanedioate Featured
Lipid A9 is an ionizable cationic lipid (pKa = 6.27) that has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA and siRNA in vivo. LNPs containing lipid A9 and encapsulating non-stimulatory siRNA increase plasma levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), indicating activation of the innate immune response, and decrease body weight in mice.
More description
DC84110 R-DOTAP(DOTAP R-isomer)
DC60408 C13-113-tetra-tail
C13-113-tetra-tail is an ionizable lipid molecule designed for use in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of therapeutic payloads, such as nucleic acids (e.g., siRNA, mRNA) or proteins.
More description
DC60406 C13-113-tri-tail
C13-113-tri tail is an ionizable lipid molecule containing a polar amino alcohol head group, three hydrophobic carbon-13 tails, and a tertiary amine linker. The lipoid can be formulated into a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) to deliver anionic substrates in vitro and in vivo. This includes siRNA to induce gene silencing in a sequence-specific manner, CAS9 mRNA, and cytotoxic proteins. Reagent grade, for research purpose. Please contact us for GMP-grade inquiries.
More description
DC72708 di-Pal-MTO
di-Pal-MTO is a palm oil-based lipid produced by combining the anticancer drug mitoxantrone (MTO) with palmitoleic acid. When nanoparticles of mono-Pal-MTO and di-Pal-MTO are combined in a molar ratio of 1:1, they show effective siRNA cell delivery and enhance anticancer activity.
More description
DC72701 mono-Pal-MTO
mono-Pal-MTO is a palm oil-based lipid produced by combining the anticancer drug mitoxantrone (MTO) with palmitoleic acid. When nanoparticles of mono-Pal-MTO and di-Pal-MTO are combined in a molar ratio of 1:1, they show effective siRNA cell delivery and enhance anticancer activity.
More description
DC60390 DLin-K-C4-DMA
DC60388 C2-DLinDMA
DC60361 DLin-K-DM4
DC60356 DMRIE
DMRIE is a cationic lipid, suitable for transfecting DNA and RNA into eukaryotic cells, and is particularly effective for transfecting suspension cells (e.g., Jurkat) and other lymphoid-derived cell lines.
More description
DC83215 DMAP-BLP
DMAP-BLP is a lipid for RNA and vaccine delivery.DMAP-BLP exhibits optimized bilayer destabilizing and pKa properties leading to highly potent gene silencing in hepatocytes following IV administration that is similar to “gold standard” lipids such as DLinMC3-DMA.
More description
DC83320 A-066
DC86601 Lipid 8 Featured
Lipid 8 iLNPs were used to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA which targeted to the PLK1 gene. The safety and excellent intracerebral diffusion performance of lipid 8 iLNPs ensured that the survival of murine glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) mice was extended. The median survival was extended by approximately 50% and the overall survival was increased by 30%. The treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma was executed by the EGFRtargeted lipid 8 iLNPs. These iLNPs possessed the ability of tumor targeting, which could increase the accumulation of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA within the tumor cells. After a single intraperitoneal administration, 80% PLK1 gene was edited and the overall survival of mice with high-grade ovarian cancer malignant ascites was enhanced by 80% . These results demonstrate the clinical potential of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system can be delivered by iLNPs for treating tumors, and provide new ideas for tumor gene therapy.
More description
DC89101 C12-4 (Lipid A-4) Featured
C12-4 (C12-494,Lipid A-4) is a branched-chain ionizable cationic lipidoid that has been used in the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA. LNPs containing lipid A4 and encapsulating an mRNA reporter accumulate in the uterus, placenta, and ovaries, as well as to the spleen and liver, in pregnant mouse dams unlike LNPs containing the branched-chain ionizable cationic lipidoid C12-200, which primarily accumulate in the liver. Intravenous administration of LNPs containing lipid A4 and encapsulating mRNA encoding VEGF increase placental VEGFR1 levels and mean fetal blood vessel area without inducing liver damage in pregnant mouse dams.
More description
DC67658 Lipid 4A2-B8-PH Featured
4A2-B8-PH is an optimally designed thioketal-incorporated biodegradable ionizable lipid (TBIL) for mRNA delivery to pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. It features a 4A2 headgroup with three tertiary amines, a biodegradable thioketal-based B8 linker, and a branched PH tail. The thioketal linker enables ROS-responsive degradation in the tumor microenvironment, enhancing endosomal escape and mRNA release. In vivo, 4A2-B8-PH LNPs achieve 98.3% pancreas-specific targeting after intraperitoneal administration, with a 218-fold improvement in delivery efficiency compared to previous benchmarks. It successfully transfects 30.5% of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells and induces complete tumor regression in orthotopic PDAC models via IL-12 mRNA therapy, demonstrating high efficacy and safety.
More description
DC67657 Lipid TS41 Featured
TS41 is a trisulfide-derived ionizable lipid engineered for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver mRNA therapeutics against multidrug-resistant bacterial pneumonia. Its optimized formulation, TS41S LNP, combines TS41 with helper lipids (e.g., DOPE, cholesterol) at a precise ratio, achieving a hydrodynamic diameter of ~105 nm, low polydispersity, and high mRNA encapsulation efficiency (~84%). This design enables efficient pulmonary delivery via intratracheal administration, with luminescence signals in lungs 4.8-fold higher than clinical benchmarks like SM-102 LNPs, ensuring targeted expression in epithelial cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. Crucially, TS41 LNPs exhibit potent anti-inflammatory properties by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing neutrophil infiltration and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) in infected lungs. In preclinical models, TS41S LNP encoding PB9 peptibody mRNA eradicated pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, improved survival rates to 80%, and minimized tissue damage without systemic toxicity. Its ROS-scavenging capability synergizes with antibacterial effects, offering a promising, translatable platform for combating resistant infections while controlling inflammation. Future enhancements, such as codon optimization or inhalation delivery, could further broaden its therapeutic potential.
More description
DC60510 Iso-A11B5C1 Featured
Iso-A11B5C1 is an ionizable lipid. The iso-A11B5C1 LNP demonstrates a high level of muscle-specific mRNA delivery efficiency. exhibiting transfection efficiency comparable to the commercially available lipid SM-102, while considerably reducing inadvertent mRNA expression in main organs such as the liver and spleen.Additionally, study results show that intramuscular administration of mRNA formulated with iso-A11B5C1 LNP caused potent cellular immune responses, even with limited expression observed in lymph nodes.
More description
DC42537 ALC-0315 Featured
ALC-0315 is an ionisable aminolipid that used for mRNA compaction and aids mRNA cellular delivery. ALC-0315 can be used to form lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery vehicles.
More description
DC80080 OF-C4-Deg-Lin Featured
OF-C4-Deg-Lin is a novel ionizable lipid for RNA delivery. OF-C4-Deg-Lin LNPs entrapping mRNA coding for luciferase induce the majority of protein expression in the spleen, with minimal translation in the liver, and negligible translation in other organs. OF-C4-Deg-Lin LNPs entrapping mRNA coding for luciferase induce the majority of protein expression in the spleen, with minimal translation in the liver, and negligible translation in other organs. To improve the mRNA delivery to extrahepatic tissues, a series of degradable diketopiperazine-based ionizable lipids were synthesized. Through evaluating the mRNA functional activity delivered by iLNPs, it was found that the ionizable lipids with doubly unsaturated lipid tails and linkers containing a length of four carbon aliphatic chain (Of-C4-Deg-Lin) could deliver the mRNA more efficiently. Moreover, compared with cKK-E12 and Invivofectamine, Of-C4-Deg-Lin could specifically induce more than 85% of firefly luciferase expression in spleen,minimal expression in the liver, and insignificant expression in other tissues.
More description
DC67217 Moderna Lipid 48 Featured
Moderna Lipid 48 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Moderna patent WO2017049245A2
More description
DC67212 Acuitas Lipid III-25 Featured
Acuitas Lipid III-25 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Acuitas Therapeutics patent US 10,166,298 B2, with pKa 6.22, Liver Luc 1648 for 0.3mgkg(ng luc/g liver), Liver Luc 13880 for 1mgkg(ng luc/g liver) . It is an analgous of ALC-0315, showing higher activity than ALC-0315.
More description
DC82001 4A3-SC8 Featured
4A3-SC8 is a novel Ionizable amino lipid for RNA delivery.The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has been a hotspot in the field of gene therapy, especially the gene correction induced by homology-directed repair (HDR). However, its application has various obstacles, such as large molecular weight, poor stability, off-target risk, and the complexity of codeliver multiple genes. Farbiak et al. established a novel ionizable lipid library consisting of four distinct amine cores (3A3, 3A5, 4A1, 4A3) and nine peripheries with different alkyl chain lengths (SC5-SC14), and screened out a class of iLNPs with ability of encapsulating Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA and donor DNA simultaneously. The delivery efficiency (quantified by luciferase mRNA expression) and iLNPs toxicity were evaluated with three different cell lines (HEK293T, HeLa, and IGROV-1), indicating the formulation containing 4A3-SC8 was the best. 4A3-SC8 iLNPs successfully induced HDR in HEK293 cells by one-pot delivery of Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA, and the correct ssDNA template. Confocal microscopy imaging showed that a portion of blue fluorescence in cells was corrected to green fluorescence. Furthermore, the nucleic acid ratios of Cas9: sgRNA: donor DNA loading in iLNPs at a ratio of 2:1:3 could maximize the HDR efficiency with the editing efficiency up to 23%, which breaks through the current bottleneck of HDR efficiency of only 1–5%. This progress is undoubtedly an important advance in the gene therapy field to cure diseases caused by genetic mutations.
More description
DC67216 Moderna Lipid 26(Lipid M) Featured
Moderna Lipid 26(Lipid M) is an ionizable cationic lipid (pKa = 6.75) that has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for mRNA delivery in vivo. LNPs containing lipid M and encapsulating mRNA encoding influenza virus genes increase anti-influenza virus IgG titers in cynomolgus monkeys without inducing local edema, erythema, or systemic levels of IL-6.
More description
DC67218 Moderna Lipid compound 182(Lipid 29 analogue-1) Featured
Moderna Lipid compound 182(Lipid 29 analogue-1) is a novel ionizable amine lipid developed by Moderna for the delivery of mRNA-based therapeutics. This lipid is part of Moderna's proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform, which is designed to encapsulate and protect mRNA, facilitate its cellular uptake, and enable efficient intracellular release. The ionizable nature of Lipid Compound 182 allows it to interact with mRNA at low pH (during LNP formulation) and release the payload in the neutral pH environment of the cytoplasm, making it a critical component of Moderna's mRNA delivery system.
More description
DC99010 Capstan lipid CICL-1(L829) Featured
CICL1 (L829)​​ is a ​​novel ionizable cationic lipid​​ specifically engineered for ​​targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs)​​ that enables efficient in vivo delivery of mRNA payloads to ​​CD8+ T cells​​. Designed to overcome limitations of conventional LNPs, CICL-1 (L-829)​​significantly ​​reduces off-target delivery to the liver​​ and exhibits ​​rapid clearance​​ compared to benchmark lipids like ALC-0315, while demonstrating ​​enhanced biodegradability and tolerability​​ in rodent and primate models. When incorporated into CD8-targeted tLNPs, CICL 1 (L829 enables ​​preferential transfection of CD8+ T cells​​ over other immune subsets, facilitating the generation of functional ​​anti-CD19 or anti-CD20 CAR T cells directly *in vivo​​*. These tLNP-engineered CAR T cells mediate ​​rapid, deep B-cell depletion​​ in humanized mice and cynomolgus monkeys, with repopulating B cells exhibiting a naïve phenotype suggestive of immune reset. By eliminating the need for ex vivo manufacturing or lymphodepleting chemotherapy, the L829-tLNP platform represents a ​​safer, scalable approach​​ for accessible CAR T therapy in oncology and autoimmune diseases.
More description
DC67654 ATX-012
ATX-012 is an ionizable cationic lipid specifically designed for mRNA delivery systems. Its unique chemical structure enables key functions in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations, such as facilitating mRNA encapsulation and enhancing endosomal escape for efficient intracellular delivery.
More description
DC67652 CICL-242
CICL-242​ is a constrained ionizable cationic lipid highlighted in patent US 20250127728A1 as a promising candidate for advanced therapeutic delivery, particularly in stem cell and gene editing applications. Its structure features a rigid amine headgroup similar to CICL-207, which likely facilitates efficient endosomal escape and reduces non-specific uptake, enhancing targeted nucleic acid delivery. Although detailed performance data is not fully disclosed in the patent, CICL-242 is explicitly synthesized and included in gene editing experimental systems (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 workflows), suggesting its potential for high-efficiency transfection in hard-to-transfect cells​ like hematopoietic stem cells (CD34⁺). This makes it a strong candidate for ex vivo cell engineering and regenerative medicine, where precision and low off-target effects are critical. While further validation is needed to quantify its efficacy and safety profile, CICL-242 represents a strategic innovation in the lipid library for next-generation genetic therapies.
More description
DC67651 CICL-238
Based on the data from patent US 20250127728A1, CICL-238​ emerges as a highly promising ionizable lipid candidate, demonstrating notable advantages for targeted delivery applications. It achieves exceptional transfection efficiency—reaching approximately 90% of CICL-207's performance in splenic T-cells even at a reduced lipid ratio of 50% in LNP formulations. Additionally, CICL-238 exhibits minimal off-target expression​ in hepatocytes (<8%, comparable to CICL-207), underscoring its enhanced specificity for immune cells over liver tissues. Its optimized structure likely contributes to efficient endosomal escape and reduced Kupffer cell uptake, making it ideal for liver-related therapies​ (e.g., siRNA silencing for metabolic diseases) and potentially broadening applications to genetic medicine where precision and safety are paramount. Further validation in disease models could solidify its role as a versatile, low-toxicity alternative to benchmark lipids.
More description
DC52025 SM-102 Featured
SM-102 is an ionizable amino lipid that has been used in combination with other lipids in the formation of lipid nanoparticles.Administration of luciferase mRNA in SM-102-containing lipid nanoparticles induces hepatic luciferase expression in mice. Formulations containing SM-102 have been used in the development of lipid nanoparticles for delivery of mRNA-based vaccines.
More description
DC67558 AMG1541 Featured
AMG-1541 is a degradable cyclic amino alcohol ionizable lipid optimized for mRNA vaccine delivery using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). It features a multi-amine headgroup and hydrophobic tails, synthesized via epoxide-ester reactions with high purity (≥90%). Formulated typically with DOPE, cholesterol, and PEG-lipids, AMG 1541 LNPs have a diameter of ~85 nm, PDI of 0.107, and encapsulation efficiency of 67%, ensuring stability and efficient mRNA delivery. In vitro, it outperforms benchmarks like SM-102, showing enhanced transfection in cells such as C2C12 and PBMCs. In vivo, intramuscular administration in mice results in robust protein expression within 6 hours and induces potent immune responses, including high antibody titers and Th1-biased T-cell activation, with minimal inflammation. Mechanistically, its β-hydroxyl groups form hydrogen bonds with mRNA phosphate backbones, facilitating endosomal escape. AMG1541 degrades rapidly under enzymatic conditions, reducing long-term toxicity, and is effective for vaccines targeting pathogens like influenza and SARS-CoV-2, making it a promising candidate for clinical applications.
More description

Customized Consultation X

Your information is safe with us. * Required Fields.

Your name
Company
Email
Procuct Name
Cat. No.
Remark
Verification code
Please fill out the characters in the picture
X