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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.
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Cat. No. Product Name Field of Application Chemical Structure
DC65349 ALC-0315 analgous-3 Featured
ALC-0315 analgous-3 is an butanolamine ionizable lipid with both ester bonds located adjacent to C8 relative to the amine head. The introduction of ester linkages can improve the clearance of the lipid in the liver. This compound is analgous to ALC-0315.
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DC65329 ALC-0315 analogue-2 Featured
ALC-0315 analogue-2 is an analogue of ALC-0315. ALC-0315 is an ionisable aminolipid that is responsible for mRNA compaction and aids mRNA cellular delivery and its cytoplasmic release through suspected endosomal destabilization. ALC-0315 can be used to form lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery vehicles. Lipid-Nanoparticles have been used in the research of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
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DC65334 Lipid 15 Featured
Lipid 15 is an ionizable amino lipid used for the generation of Lipid nanoparticles .
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DC65434 SM102 Analog 1 Featured
An analog of SM-102. The ethanolamine amino lipid head enhances encapsulation of mRNA. The lipid has primary esters at C7 position relative to the amine nitrogen. The primary lipid tail has 8 carbon tail. The lipid can be used for mRNA-based therapies which depends on the availability of a safe and efficient delivery vehicle.
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DC65180 DLin-MC2-DMA Featured
D-Lin-MC2-DMA(MC2) is a cationic lipid that has been synthesized for Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver the siRNA.
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DC65179 Dlin-MC4-DMA Featured
D-Lin-MC4-DMA(MC4) is a cationic lipid that has been synthesized for Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver the siRNA.
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DC65682 RCB-4-8 Featured
RCB-4-8​​ is a biodegradable ionizable lipid nanoparticle (LNP) engineered for efficient pulmonary mRNA delivery and in vivo genome editing, as detailed in the primary research article ​​"Combinatorial design of nanoparticles for pulmonary mRNA delivery and genome editing"​​ (Li et al., Nature Biotechnology 2023). Synthesized from a combinatorial library of 720 biodegradable lipids via a three-component reaction system, RCB-4-8 features an alkyne-containing lipid tail and tertiary amine headgroup, optimized through high-throughput screening for superior lung-targeting capabilities. Its unique molecular design incorporates hydrolyzable ester and carbonate groups, enabling rapid biodegradation (<30% lung retention at 48 h vs. >90% for conventional lipids) while maintaining high transfection efficiency. When formulated with DOTAP instead of DOPE, RCB-4-8 LNPs achieved ​​100-fold higher luciferase mRNA expression​​ in murine lungs compared to FDA-approved MC3 LNPs and mediated ​​95% GFP knockout​​ in vitro. In Ai9 reporter mice, intratracheal delivery of RCB-4-8 loaded with Cre mRNA edited ​​53% of total lung cells​​ after three doses, while codelivery with Cas9 mRNA/sgRNA yielded ​​7.2% tdTomato+ cells​​, rising to ​​17%​​ when combined with AAV-sgRNAs. With an optimal particle size of ​​85.7 nm​​ (PDI 0.11) and ​​>87% mRNA encapsulation​​, RCB-4-8 supports repeat dosing and represents a transformative platform for inhalable gene therapies targeting congenital lung diseases like cystic fibrosis.
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DC67567 ARV-T1 Featured
ARV-T1 is a novel ionizable lipid featuring a cholesterol moiety incorporated in its tail, designed to enhance mRNA delivery efficiency. With a pKa of 6.73, it exhibits optimal pH-dependent ionization for endosomal escape and mRNA release. Structurally, ARV-T1 contains a tertiary amine head group and ester-linked lipid tails, enabling rapid in vivo metabolism and improved biocompatibility.Compared to SM-102 (used in Moderna's vaccine), LNPs formulated with ARV-T1 demonstrate superior physicochemical properties: smaller particle size (~80 nm vs. 90 nm), lower polydispersity index (0.09 vs. 0.10), and higher absolute zeta potential (-10 mV vs. -5 mV). These characteristics correlate with >90% mRNA encapsulation efficiency and enhanced stability, maintaining performance for 12 weeks at -20°C.In vitro, ARV-T1 LNPs showed 7-fold higher protein expression than SM-102 LNPs. In vivo, they prolonged luciferase expression (>72 hours vs. <48 hours for SM-102) and induced 10-fold higher neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at low doses. The cholesterol tail promotes endosomal membrane fusion, while ester linkages facilitate metabolic clearance, yielding an excellent safety profile in toxicity studies. This combination of efficacy and safety positions ARV-T1 as a promising platform for mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
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DC60855 4A3-SC7​​ Featured
4A3-SC7​​ is a proprietary, ionizable lipid component central to the SORT LNP platform developed for targeted organ delivery. It features a unique ​​branched-tail structure​​ designed to enhance mRNA encapsulation and endosomal escape. In the study, it served as the ​​primary ionizable lipid​​ in both Liver SORT LNPs and updated Lung SORT LNPs. For liver targeting, it was formulated at ​​15.04 mol%​​ alongside helper lipids (DOPE: 23.04%, Cholesterol: 38.72%), PEG-lipid (DMG-PEG2000: 3.2%), and the liver-targeting lipid ​​4A3-Cit (20 mol%)​​. This specific composition (Total lipid:RNA = 20:1 wt/wt) yielded LNPs with ​​~74 nm size​​, ​​low PDI (0.17)​​, and ​​high encapsulation efficiency (87%)​​ for large mRNAs like ABE editors (~5000 nt). Its branched-tail architecture was critical for stabilizing nanoparticles encapsulating large RNAs, overcoming a key limitation of previous formulations. 4A3-SC7-based Liver SORT LNPs enabled ​​>40% base editing in hepatocytes​​ in vivo, achieving durable correction of the disease-causing SERPINA1 mutation in PiZ mice and significantly reducing pathological protein aggregates. In the updated DualSORT system, 4A3-SC7 was also paired with ​​DORI​​ (instead of DOTAP) for improved lung targeting, demonstrating its versatility as a foundational ionizable lipid for multi-organ gene editing therapeutics.
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DC65412 Acuitas Lipid III-2 Featured
Acuitas Lipid III-2 is an ionizable amine lipid with two identical ester tails adjacent to C6 position relative to amine from patent:WO2017075531A1 with the similar activity as ALC-0315. The head of lipid is propanolamine which can effectively encapsulate mRNA used in gene therapies which depends on the availability of a safe and efficient delivery vehicle.
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DC60508 4A3-SCC-10 Featured
4A3-SCC-10 is a disulfide bond-containing biodegradable ionizable cationic lipid (pKa = 6.22) that has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA in vitro and in vivo. LNPs containing 4A3-SCC-10 and encapsulating a Cy5-RNA reporter have improved endosomal escape ability over Cy5-RNA-encapsulated LNPs containing 4A3-SC-10, which does not contain disulfide bonds, in HeLa cells. Intravenous administration of LNPs containing 4A3-SCC-10 and encapsulating an mRNA luciferase reporter selectively accumulate in mouse liver.
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DC67109 Fluorescent-SM102 Featured
A fluorescent molecule-conjugated SM-102 derivative for tracking and locating the position of SM-102.
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DC67126 80-O18 Featured
80-O18 is a lipidoid known for its exceptional ability to enhance overall cellular uptake, showcasing significant potential as an effective delivery agent.
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DC67564 C-a16 Featured
​​C-a16​​ is an ionizable lipid engineered through Mannich reaction chemistry, designed to revolutionize mRNA delivery by synergizing high efficiency with minimized immune activation. Synthesized by reacting a phenolic tail derivative, formaldehyde, and a branched tertiary amine core under optimized ethanol conditions, this lipid integrates antioxidant phenol groups directly into its structure. These phenol moieties serve as intrinsic radical scavengers, effectively neutralizing intracellular reactive oxygen species that typically degrade mRNA and trigger inflammation.In lipid nanoparticle formulations, C-a16 constitutes the functional backbone, enabling superior mRNA encapsulation efficiency while maintaining a stable nanoparticle size of approximately 80–100 nm. Critically, it outperforms conventional lipids like DLin-MC3-DMA by achieving significantly higher target-protein expression in vivo alongside markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. The antioxidant capability is not incidental but fundamental—quenching the phenol groups drastically diminishes both ROS suppression and delivery efficacy, confirming the design's mechanistic elegance.C-a16 represents a paradigm shift: its biomimetic antioxidant architecture addresses the chronic trade-off between delivery potency and immunogenicity, unlocking safer therapeutic applications for vaccines and gene therapies.
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DC67480 Sanofi Lipid VII Featured
Lipid VII is a novel ionizable cationic lipid developed by Sanofi.Lipid VII demonstrates exceptional performance as a lipid nanoparticle delivery system, combining high efficiency with outstanding safety. Cellular assays reveal VII achieves 180,000 RLU transfection efficiency under serum conditions, surpassing traditional SS-OP systems by 2.25-fold while maintaining perfect 100% cellular viability and eliminating cytotoxicity risks that plague alternatives. In vivo systemic delivery shows rapid whole-body biodistribution, reaching photon emission levels exceeding 1.00E+10 photons/sec within 48 hours. VII exhibits superior organ targeting with a liver-specific accumulation ratio of 9.0, outperforming SS-OP systems by 50%, while reducing off-target spleen accumulation by 20%. Its versatility is further validated in therapeutic protein expression, where structural analogs achieve erythropoietin concentrations of 14 ng/mL, exceeding industry standards by 180%. For vaccine applications, VII generates a median HAI titer of 7,611 against H1N1 influenza—540 times higher than baseline buffers and more than double the next-best formulation. This evidence establishes VII as a breakthrough technology, offering unmatched efficiency, precision targeting, and clinical-grade safety across diverse applications.
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DC60789 SM-86 Analog-1 Featured
SM-86 Analog-1 is a novel ionizable lipid designed to improve the delivery of RNA via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) It is derived from SM-86,with 8 carbon within its hydrophobic tail.
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DC67542 ATX L1 Featured
L1 is a biodegradable, branched self-immolative lipid optimized for ​​high-efficiency mRNA delivery​​. Its disulfide-based architecture enables rapid glutathione-triggered degradation in the cytosol (liver half-life: 4.2 days), promoting rapid clearance while maintaining serum stability. In vivo, L1 achieves ​​exceptional mRNA translation​​, producing twice the hEPO protein levels of the clinically approved MC3 lipid at 0.1 mg/kg. Its apparent pKa (6.57) facilitates efficient endosomal escape without compromising safety: even at 5 mg/kg, L1 causes no significant body weight loss or sustained inflammation. Structural features (C7 alkyl tails, carbamate linker) balance potency and biodegradability, making L1 ideal for mRNA vaccines and protein-replacement therapies.
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DC60564 Lipid GVS-18-B6 Featured
GVS-18-B6 is a silicon ether-based ionizable lipid developed by Genevant, optimized for mRNA-LNP delivery, characterized by a short-chain trialkyl structure with three C10 alkyl chains (including a cis double bond) and a dimethylamino (DMA) head group linked via a 4-carbon spacer (pKa ~6.15). Its LNP formulations exhibit a narrow particle size distribution (89 nm, PDI=0.06), high mRNA encapsulation efficiency (90%), and pH-dependent surface charge (−0.11 mV at pH 7.5 vs. +2.69 mV at pH 5.5), facilitating endosomal escape. ​​In vivo​​, GVS-18-B6 demonstrated superior liver-specific mRNA expression (5.30×10⁷ pg EGFP/g liver, 2.6× higher than MC3) with minimal spleen accumulation (liver/spleen ratio 92:1 vs. MC3’s 10:1), attributed to rapid non-enzymatic hydrolysis of its silicon ether bonds. This mechanism enables near-complete hepatic clearance within 6 hours in mice and 24 hours in NHPs, avoiding long-term organ retention (MC3 retained 25% in liver after 28 days). Compared to benchmarks (MC3, SM-102, LP-01), GVS-18-B6 showed enhanced potency in RBC hemolysis assays (pH 6.2), indicating earlier endosomal membrane disruption, and maintained stability through 12-month frozen storage or repeated freeze-thaw cycles. ​​Toxicity profiling​​ revealed minimal immunogenicity (MCP-1 levels 0.58×10⁶ vs. MC3’s 1.10×10⁶) and no ALT/AST elevation or anti-PEG antibody induction in NHPs after repeated dosing. Its species-agnostic clearance, low off-target effects, and high tolerability (6 mg/kg dose in mice) position GVS-18-B6 as a leading candidate for chronic disease therapies requiring frequent mRNA administration.
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DC60639 Acid-degradable Anionic Lipid (ADA) Featured
ADA (Acid-Degradable Anionic Lipids) is revolutionizing mRNA delivery with its unique azido-acetal linker, enabling rapid hydrolysis in endosomes (pH ~6.0). This breakthrough technology ensures efficient endosomal escape, significantly enhancing mRNA delivery to target cells. ADA-LNPs excel in delivering mRNA to the spleen and liver, making them ideal for immune-related therapies.By degrading into biocompatible byproducts, ADA minimizes long-term tissue persistence and toxicity.ADA-LNPs outperform traditional LNPs, delivering mRNA more effectively to immune cells like macrophages and B cells.
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DC60636 Acid-degradable Cationic Lipid (ADC) Featured
Acid-degradable Cationic Lipid (ADC) composed of cationic lipid is synthesized with the azido-acetal linker and used to generate RD-LNPs, which significantly improves the performance of LNP-mRNA complexes in vitro and in vivo.
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DC67214 Acuitas II-12 Featured
Acuitas II-12 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Acuitas Therapeutics patent WO2016176330A1
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DC67215 Acuitas Lipid III-7 Featured
Acuitas Lipid III-7 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Acuitas Therapeutics patent US 10,166,298 B2.
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DC67219 Lipid 29 analogue-3 Featured
Lipid 29 analogue-3 is an ionizable lipid designed for the delivery of RNA-based therapeutics, such as mRNA or siRNA.
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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.
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DC153158 ND-O1 (SM-86 Analog-2) Featured
ND-O1 (SM-86 Analog-2) is a novel ionizable lipid designed to improve the delivery of siRNA via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for treating liver fibrosis. It is derived from SM-86 (structurally similar to SM-102, used in COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) but incorporates an ether bond within its hydrophobic tail, a first-of-its-kind modification aimed at enhancing delivery efficiency. In Vitro Efficiency: ND-O1 LNPs (LNP-O1) showed significantly higher siRNA transfection efficiency in activated fibroblasts compared to Lipid 5 LNPs (LNP-M). In Vivo Efficacy: In a CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mouse model, LNP-O1/siHSP47 (loaded with HSP47-targeting siRNA) reduced HSP47 expression by ~84%, threefold more effective than LNP-M. This led to a dramatic reduction in collagen deposition and marked improvement in liver fibrosis. Safety: The ether bond modification did not introduce additional toxicity, maintaining biocompatibility. ND-O1 represents a breakthrough in ionizable lipid design, demonstrating that strategic placement of ether bonds in hydrophobic tails can enhance LNP performance without compromising safety. Its success highlights its potential for clinical translation in RNA-based therapies for liver fibrosis and other hepatic diseases.
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DC60782 Lipid A4B4-S3 Featured
A4B4-S3 is a novel biodegradable ionizable lipid that has been meticulously designed through modular platforms and optimized specifically for mRNA delivery. It serves as a critical component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and enhances mRNA delivery efficiency by facilitating endosomal escape. The structural design of A4B4-S3 leverages the Passerini reaction, a highly efficient and modular chemical method that enables the rapid generation of diverse lipid libraries. The design focuses on optimizing the methylene units between lipid headgroups and linkages to strengthen hydrogen bonding interactions with mRNA ribophosphate complexes. This enhanced hydrogen bonding allows for more effective release of mRNA from endosomes, thereby boosting delivery efficiency. Concurrently, the structural optimization improves biodegradability, reducing potential long-term toxicity risks. In experimental studies, A4B4-S3 has demonstrated superior gene editing efficacy in mouse liver compared to SM-102, a clinically prevalent lipid used in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. It also shows potential for repeat-dose protein replacement therapies, suggesting enhanced stability and safety for long-term treatment regimens. Technologically, A4B4-S3 not only provides a more efficient LNP formulation but also deepens the understanding of the relationship between structure and delivery efficiency. This offers new directions for the development of future mRNA therapeutics. In summary, A4B4-S3 represents a next-generation delivery carrier achieved through rational design and high-throughput screening strategies. Its performance enhancements and biodegradable properties position it as a promising candidate for gene therapies and vaccine applications.
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DC60793 LUMI6 Featured
The LUMI-6 lipid, autonomously designed via the LUMI-lab platform, is a brominated ionizable lipid optimized for mRNA delivery. Formulated at a molar ratio of 35:28:34.5:2 (LUMI-6:DOTAP:cholesterol:C14-PEG2000), LNPs exhibit uniform physicochemical properties, including a hydrodynamic diameter of ~80 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) <0.2, and robust mRNA encapsulation efficiency. In vitro, LUMI-6 LNPs demonstrated 1.8-fold higher transfection potency in human bronchial epithelial cells compared to its debrominated counterpart (LUMI-6D), with minimal cytotoxicity confirmed by CCK-8 assays. In vivo, pulmonary delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA via LUMI-6 LNPs achieved ​20.3% gene editing efficiency in murine lung epithelial cells, surpassing SM-102 (Moderna’s clinical benchmark) and demonstrating ​preferential tropism for lung epithelium over endothelial cells—critical for inhaled therapies targeting cystic fibrosis and surfactant disorders. The brominated tail enhances endosomal escape through optimized protonation dynamics, though explicit pKa values remain unmeasured. Synthesized via high-throughput combinatorial chemistry and refined through AI-driven active learning, LUMI-6 combines scalable production with organ-selective delivery, positioning it as a transformative platform for pulmonary nucleic acid therapeutics.
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DC67523 Moderna Lipid II-6 Featured
DC67213 Acuitas Lipid II-10 Featured
Acuitas II-10 is an novel ionizable amine lipid used for mRNA delivery from Acuitas Therapeutics patent WO2016176330A1
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DC60809 6Ac1-C12 Featured
6Ac1-C12 is an ester-core degradable ionizable cationic lipid designed for mRNA delivery, featuring a unique hexa-acrylate ester core ("6Ac1") conjugated with six N-methyldodecylamine chains ("C12") via solvent-free Michael addition. This branched architecture enables optimal mRNA encapsulation and confers exceptional stability, maintaining consistent ~100 nm particle size for over 30 days at 4°C—crucial for cold-chain storage. With a pKa ≈ 6.0, it facilitates pH-responsive endosomal escape through membrane fusion (80% FRET signal increase at pH 5.5) and efficient cytoplasmic mRNA release.Its composition allows precise organ targeting: in conventional four-component LNPs, 98% hepatic mRNA expression occurs post-IV administration, primarily in endothelial cells (60% transfection efficiency). Cholesterol removal enables lung-specific accumulation and translation via three-component formulations, overcoming historical hepatic off-targeting. The lipid shows negligible cytotoxicity in vitro (>85% cell viability) and no significant organ damage in vivo (ALT/AST/BUN/CREA levels comparable to PBS controls). Its degradable ester core hydrolyzes into smaller metabolites, enhancing biocompatibility. Modular compatibility with DOTAP/DDAB cationic lipids expands applicability for pulmonary or splenic targeting, establishing 6Ac1-C12 as a versatile platform for organ-selective mRNA therapeutics.
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