SM86 is a cationic, ionizable lipid developed by Moderna as a core component of its lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform for mRNA therapeutic delivery.SM-086 is structurally optimized and analogous to SM-102 (used in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines), with modifications aimed at enhancing mRNA delivery efficiency and safety.SM-86 serves as the primary cationic lipid in three investigational mRNA therapies targeting rare metabolic disorders:mRNA-3927: Restores propionyl-CoA carboxylase activity in propionic acidemia (PA). mRNA-3705: Delivers methylmalonyl-CoA mutase mRNA for methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). mRNA-3210: Provides phenylalanine hydroxylase mRNA to treat phenylketonuria (PKU).

EDMPC, a cationic lipid, has an enhanced ability to deliver DNA to pulmonary tissues. EDMPC mediates intralobar DNA delivery to rodents.

Lipid C3 is an ionizable cationic lipid (pKa = 5.05-5.671).1,2 It has been used in the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA in vitro and in vivo.

PL-40​​ is a ​​cardiolipin-mimetic ionizable lipid​​ engineered for high-efficiency, antibody-free mRNA delivery to T cells. PL 40 LNPs exhibit a mean particle size of ​​120 nm​​, zeta potential of ​​-5.19 mV​​, and >80% mRNA encapsulation efficiency, with excellent plasma stability (≤5% size change after 6h in serum). Cryo-TEM reveals ​​polyhedral nanoparticles​​ with phase-separated domains, while SAXS confirms tight mRNA packing (d-spacing: ​​~3 nm​​ vs. 6.64 nm in conventional LNPs). AFM demonstrates exceptional rigidity (high bending modulus), enabling T cell-selective uptake via actin-mediated endocytosis (>2× higher than ALC0315 LNPs).In primary human T cells, PL40 LNPs achieve ​​>90% transfection​​ at 0.5 μg mRNA dose and sustain >100× higher luciferase expression than benchmark lipids. When delivering circular RNA, they extend protein expression ​​>5 days​​ with superior spleen tropism (spleen:liver ratio = ​​2.63​​). Crucially, they reprogram T cells into functional CAR-Ts in vivo without antibody conjugation, evading exhaustion markers (no Tim-3/PD-1 upregulation). Therapeutically, PL40-based uPAR-targeted CAR mRNA reduces liver fibrosis (​​collagen↓50%​​, ALT↓50%) and rheumatoid arthritis severity (​​clinical scores↓60%​​) by clearing senescent cells. Humanized anti-uPAR CARs delivered via PL40 show near-complete cytotoxicity (>95%) against uPAR+ cells, underscoring clinical translatability.

F10T5 is a tetrahedral tetrahydrofuran (THF)-derived lipid nanoparticle (LNP) engineered with four acid-labile acetal tails, designed for efficient mRNA delivery to the central nervous system. This lipid features a mono-THF core conjugated with branched hydrophobic chains that balance lipophilicity (LogD ≈11) and endosomal escape capability. Preclinical studies demonstrated F10T5 LNPs bypass the blood-brain barrier via meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs) after subcutaneous neck injection, showing 40-fold higher brain luciferase expression than FDA-approved SM102 LNPs. Cryo-EM revealed spherical nanoparticles (~170 nm diameter) with 91.9% mRNA encapsulation. In Neuro-2a cells, F10T5 exhibited superior cytoplasmic mRNA release through enhanced endosomal membrane disruption, evidenced by diffuse calcein fluorescence. Flow cytometry confirmed neuron-predicted delivery (8.8% GFP+ neurons vs 1.28% with SM102) in mice, with functional validation in Ai14 transgenic models where Cre mRNA-loaded F10T5 induced tdTomato expression in neurons and glial cells. Safety assessments showed normal hepatic/renal biomarkers and no histopathological abnormalities. The THF core and acetal tail design synergistically optimize lymphatic trafficking, brain penetration, and biodegradability, positioning F10T5 as a transformative platform for mRNA-based therapies targeting neurodegenerative diseases.

Sail Lipid 2231 is a novel ionizable lipid targeting to spleen developed by Sai Biomedicine.As described on US20250205167A1 Lipid 2231 features  a ​​pyrrolidine core​​ (5-membered ring) with biodegradable ester linkages and asymmetric C17/C11 hydrophobic chains. In vivo data shows moderate spleen targeting (Spleen RLU: ​​3.8E+06​​) with a spleen-to-liver ratio of ​​12.767​​. 

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.

TCL053 is an ionizable amino lipid.1 It has been used in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and has a pKa value of 6.8. LNPs containing TCL053 and encapsulating mRNA encoding the Cas9 nuclease, in combination with LNPs containing TCL053 and encapsulating single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting the Rosa26 locus, have been used to induce CRISPR-mediated gene editing in the mouse gastrocnemius muscle.TCL053 is an ionizable lipid that has received FDA approval for preparing mRNA vaccines. It is a three-tailed ionizable lipid to overcome the disadvantage of nonrepeatable administration of AAV vectors. In addition, combined with limb perfusion administration, TCL053 iLNPs could transiently deliver CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA to multiple muscle tissues, reducing immunogenicity and increasing the safety of iLNPs. It is great progress for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other diseases that require multiple doses.

Lipid 10 is a novel ionizable cationic lipid be used for delivery of therapeutic RNA to the Bone Marrow in Multiple Myeloma Using CD38-Targeted with Lipid 10-LNP.

LIPID168(pKa ~6.5) ​​ is an optimized ionizable lipid engineered for in vivo mRNA delivery to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in bone marrow. Developed by ​​Yoltech Therapeutics​​ through high-throughput screening of lipid libraries, it features a ​​diethylamino head group​​ and a tailored hydrophobic tail structure that enables antibody-free targeting. When Lipid 168 was formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), it achieved ​​48.5% base editing efficiency​​ in bone marrow cells —surpassing benchmarks like LIPID-028 (19.7%)—and reduced off-target liver editing from 71% to 19% by incorporating ​​miR-122 target sequences​​. In humanized β-thalassemia models, LNP 168 delivered ABE8e mRNA/sgRNA to patient-derived HSCs, yielding ​​42.6% editing at the HBG promoter​​, reactivating fetal hemoglobin (γ-globin) and rescuing erythroid defects . Its bone marrow specificity is driven by a unique ​​protein corona​​ enriched in albumin, fibronectin, and fibrinogen . Safety studies confirmed transient immune responses and no cumulative toxicity . LIPID-168 represents a promising non-viral platform for curative gene therapies in blood disorders.

A2-Iso5-2DC18 is a top-performing lipid for mRNA delivery in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), BMDMs and HeLa cells.

246C10 is a synthesized ionizable lipid. 246C10 can be formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), cholesterol, and C16-PEG2000 ceramide (PEG-lipid) as well as mRNA. The lipid nanoparticle formulations can be used for mRNA delivery. To obtain iLNPs that could specifically target liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), six different ionizable lipids (241C10 to 246C10) were synthesized by an epoxide ring-opening reaction with piperazine- or piperidine-containing amines. Biodistribution and gene regulation of various iLNPs were assessed in vivo, and the results showed that the 246C10 iLNPs (containing piperazine amine) had the highest luciferase expression in the liver. When further analyzing the 246C10 iLNPs transfection efficiency in different types of liver cells, it was found that tdTomato fluorescence was mainly concentrated in hepatocytes, not in LSECs. Figure 6f shows that 80% of hepatocytes are fluorescent, 40% of LSECs are fluorescent, and 20% of Kupffer cells are fluorescent. Due to the mannose receptor on LSECs, mannose-PEG lipid was introduced into 246C10 iLNPs to alter the distribution of iLNPs in different liver cells. As shown in Figure 6g, tdTomato fluorescence distribution was 15% of hepatocytes, 70% of LSECs, and 15% of Kupffer cells, significantly improved the ability of iLNPs to actively target LSECs. In contrast, this work indirectly shows that the iLNPs with piperazine head lipid are more able to deliver mRNA to the liver and translate the target protein than the iLNPs with piperidine head lipid. It is worth mentioning that the preparation buffer of 246C10 iLNPs could influence the encapsulation efficiency of mRNA. With the addition of sodium chloride in the citrate buffer, the encapsulation efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA was increased. These iLNPs were able to treat hemophilia safely, without causing hepatotoxicity, the immune response induced by Cas9 and off-target editing.

98N12-5 is an ionizable cationic lipid. It has been used in combination with other lipids in the generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs containing 98N12-5 and encapsulating proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) siRNA selectively accumulate in the liver and reduce total serum cholesterol levels in mice and rats and serum LDL levels in cynomolgus monkeys.

​​Lipid 10a-26​​ is an ionizable lipid developed by Orna Therapeutics for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations. Lipid 10a-26 is a key ionizable lipid in the LNP-6 formulation. Through structural modification, it exhibits reduced binding to ApoE proteins and lowered liver affinity compared to traditional ionizable lipids. Instead, Lipid 10a-26 demonstrates strong splenic tropism—in non-human primate studies, it effectively delivers payloads to the spleen and immune cells in peripheral blood, such as T cells, NK cells, and macrophages, enabling the possibility of "in vivo CAR-T" therapy. Its pKa is tuned to approximately 6.0–6.5, allowing rapid protonation in the acidic endosomal environment, which promotes endosomal membrane disruption and efficient cytosolic release of circular RNA.

Lipid 2306 is a novel ionizable lipid developed by Sail Biomedicine demonstrates excellent performance with a spleen-to-liver ratio of 3.68 and a very high total expression level of 2.5E+07. Lipid 2306 offers a strong balance of efficient systemic protein production and clear preferential delivery to the spleen.

Lipid 2310 is a novel ionizable lipid developed by Sail Biomedicine demonstrates excellent performance with a spleen-to-liver ratio of 5.58 and a very high total expression level of 1.3E+07. Lipid 2310 offers a strong balance of efficient systemic protein production and clear preferential delivery to the spleen.

Lipid 2298 is a novel ionizable lipid developed by Sai Biomedicine demonstrates excellent performance with a spleen-to-liver ratio of 3.448​ and a very high total expression level of 2.4E+07. Lipid 2298 offers a strong balance of efficient systemic protein production and clear preferential delivery to the spleen.

AA76-lipid is a dipeptide-modified ionizable lipid, engineered with an arginine-histidine motif, that constitutes the core of the pancreatic-targeted AH-LNP delivery platform. Its chemical architecture, characterized by an externally positioned and C-terminally modified arginine residue, was identified through systematic screening as the optimal structure for function. Upon intraperitoneal administration, AH-LNPs formulated with this lipid interact with proteins in the peritoneal fluid, undergoing dynamic assembly into significantly larger complexes. This substantial increase in size (from ~100 nm to over 360 nm) exploits a physical targeting principle termed the Capsule-filter-mediated pancreatic targeting (CAMP) mechanism. Large particles are selectively filtered out by the dense capsules of other abdominal organs, leading to preferential enrichment in the capsule-deficient pancreas. Concurrently, the arginine-histidine motif directs the formation of a distinct protein corona enriched with apolipoproteins (e.g., APOE, APOB-100), which mimics very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). This corona enables efficient cellular internalization primarily into pancreatic stromal cells via VLDL receptor (VLDLR)-mediated endocytosis, known as the VMP pathway. The synergistic integration of the physical CAMP targeting and the biological VMP uptake mechanisms empowers AA76-lipid-based AH-LNPs to achieve highly specific, potent, and sustained mRNA delivery and gene editing within the pancreas across multiple species, demonstrating exceptional therapeutic efficacy in models of both autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

CL15F 7-5 is a piperidine-based ionizable lipid from the CL15F library, characterized by a symmetrically branched tail structure with a 7-carbon main chain and a 5-carbon side chain. This moderate tail length positions it between short-tail (e.g., CL15F 6-4) and long-tail (e.g., CL15F 14-12) variants, granting it a unique balance in mRNA delivery properties. Its LNPs exhibit optimized organ selectivity, enabling significant mRNA expression in both the spleen and muscle, as demonstrated by in vivo luciferase assays following intravenous and intramuscular administration. This lipid structure facilitates a favorable DSPC surface density on LNPs, which moderates interactions with serum proteins like ApoE, thereby reducing rapid hepatic clearance and promoting extrahepatic delivery. In vaccine applications, CL15F 7-5 LNPs encapsulating SARS-CoV-2 RBD mRNA elicited robust anti-RBD IgG titers and neutralizing antibodies in mice, outperforming the clinically benchmarked SM-102 lipid. The piperidine headgroup further contributes to storage stability by minimizing the generation of aldehyde impurities that can form mRNA-lipid adducts. Consequently, CL15F 7-5 represents a versatile lipid for developing stable, spleen-targeted mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, leveraging tail-length engineering for enhanced efficacy without complex formulation changes.

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.

C14-306 is a rationally designed ionizable lipid for brain targeting delivery, characterized by a linear 3,3'-diamino-N-methyldipropylamine (306) core conjugated with tetradecyl (C14) tails. This specific architectural configuration, synthesized via epoxide ring-opening amination, yields a molecular structure that optimally balances hydrophobic character and protonation capacity. The C14 alkyl chains enhance membrane integration and LNP stability, while the multiamine core facilitates efficient mRNA complexation and pH-dependent endosomal disruption. When formulated into LNPs with standard helper lipids (DOPE, cholesterol, DMG-PEG2000), C14-306-based nanoparticles exhibit favorable physicochemical properties, including a monodisperse size distribution near 110 nm and high mRNA encapsulation efficiency (>84%). High-throughput in vivo barcoding screening identified C14-306 LNPs as lead candidates for brain delivery, demonstrating a significant tropism for neuronal cells over liver tissue. In validation studies, LNPs incorporating C14-306 achieved a 6.9-fold increase in luciferase mRNA transfection in the mouse brain compared to the SM-102 benchmark, coupled with a substantial reduction in hepatic off-target expression. Flow cytometry confirmed preferential transfection of NeuN+ neurons, and safety assessments indicated no significant blood-brain barrier compromise or induction of systemic inflammation. The efficacy of C14-306 is attributed to its tailored pKa, promoting extended circulation and enhanced endosomal escape within brain cells. C14-306 represents a promising platform for systemic mRNA therapeutics targeting neurological disorders.

AX6​​ is an ionizable lipid in the ​​F32 LNP​​ formulation, engineered by ReNAgade/Orna Therapeutics for targeted mRNA delivery to T cells. AX-6's unique ​​bridged bicyclic/polycyclic core​​ with a ​​tertiary amine group​​ enables pH-dependent protonation and endosomal escape, while ​​C14-C18 hydrophobic tails​​ (optionally branched/fluorinated) enhance bilayer stability and mRNA encapsulation. Demonstrating ​​exceptional T-cell tropism​​, AX6 achieves high transfection efficiency in CD4+/CD8+ T cells (validated in NHP/humanized models) with minimal toxicity. Compared to clinical benchmarks (SM-102, ALC-0315), its rigid core offers superior ​​serum stability​​ and ​​immune-cell specificity​​, positioning it as an ideal candidate for ​​CAR-T/NK therapies​​ and ​​next-gen vaccines​​. The F32 LNP system's proven efficacy (e.g., in vivo B-cell depletion) underscores AX 6's transformative potential for ​​cell engineering​​ and ​​immunotherapies​​.

BHD-C2C2-PipZ, as an efficient ionizable cationic lipid, achieves high encapsulation efficiency and controllable release of mRNA through its unique chemical structure. In PEG-free 3P-LNPs, its electrostatic interaction with tripolyphosphate successfully replaces the steric stabilization effect of traditional PEG, offering a new strategy to circumvent PEG immunogenicity. Its hepatic distribution pattern further indicates that LNP design should take into account the heterogeneity of the organ microenvironment.

TE AA3-Dlin is an optimized lipid nanoparticle (LNP) carrier designed for mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy, enabling precise in vivo dendritic cell (DC) reprogramming to enhance antitumor immunity. TE AA3-Dlin LNP exhibits superior serum stability, maintaining consistent particle size and low turbidity under physiological conditions, while protecting mRNA from degradation, which is crucial for effective delivery. Functionally, TE AA3-Dlin preferentially targets splenic DCs by leveraging ApoE-enriched protein coronas, facilitating efficient cellular uptake and mRNA expression, as demonstrated by enhanced EGFP signals in DCs.This targeting promotes DC maturation, antigen presentation, and membrane-bound IL-15 expression, activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for tumor rejection. In models like melanoma and colon carcinoma, it synergizes with checkpoint inhibitors, showing minimal toxicity and robust immunological memory.

Lipid A-12 is an ionizable cationic lipid from Capstan Therapeutics and a close analog of CICL-1 (L829). The structure was modified by the extension of the headgroup linker from a two-carbon (C2) to a three-carbon (C3) spacer compared to CICL-1 (L829).

4A3-LNSC8​ is a strategically designed thiourea-functionalized ionizable lipid that serves as the foundational core for a novel anion-coordination delivery platform. Its structure features a central 4A3 amine headgroup symmetrically extended with four hydrophobic tails, each incorporating a biodegradable ester linkage and a key thiourea-bridged linker. The inclusion of the thiourea group is the pivotal innovation, as it provides specific hydrogen-bonding sites capable of interacting with various halide anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, I⁻). When formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) without anion coordination, 4A3-LNSC8 itself exhibits a characteristic liver tropism, efficiently delivering mRNA to hepatocytes following systemic administration, with a measured surface pKa of approximately 5.54. However, its primary significance lies in its role as a versatile precursor. The strong anion-binding capability of its thiourea linkers allows for predictable modulation of the LNP's properties. Upon binding with anions like Cl⁻, the resulting complex (e.g., Cl-4A3-LNSC8) undergoes a significant pKa shift, which reprograms the LNP's in vivo fate, redirecting mRNA delivery from the liver to secondary lymphoid organs such as the spleen and lymph nodes. Thus, 4A3-LNSC8 is not merely an efficient ionizable lipid but a programmable scaffold that enables precise control over organ-targeting specificity through simple anion coordination, offering a powerful rational design strategy for advanced mRNA therapeutics.

Cl-4A3-LNSC8​ represents a novel class of thiourea-functionalized ionizable lipids engineered for selective organ-targeted mRNA delivery. Its core innovation lies in an anion-coordination strategy, where the parent lipid, 4A3-LNSC8, binds chloride ions (Cl⁻) via hydrogen-bonding interactions with its thiourea groups. This binding event is not merely structural but functionally critical, as it induces a significant shift in the surface pKa of the resulting lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) from approximately 5.54 to 8.79. This pKa modulation is the key mechanism that redirects the organotropism of the LNPs upon systemic administration. While the unmodified 4A3-LNSC8 LNPs preferentially deliver mRNA to the liver, Cl-4A3-LNSC8 LNPs effectivelyreprogram this tropism, enabling highly efficient mRNA delivery to secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), particularly the spleen and lymph nodes. This platform demonstrates remarkable efficacy, achieving up to 65.7% gene editing efficiency in splenic macrophages in vivo, significantly outperforming benchmark delivery systems. Furthermore, by leveraging the coordination with different halides, such as iodine for computed tomography (CT) contrast, the system can be adapted for dual-modal theranostic applications, enabling simultaneous lymphatic metastasis imaging and therapeutic mRNA delivery.

E12LA6B603（ILB3132，ILB-3132） is a novel ionizable amino lipid disclosed in patent WO2024198497A1, developed by MagicRNA, representing a highly efficient component for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems.When formulated into LNPs, E12LA6B603 LNP achieves a remarkable 98.26% encapsulation efficiency for mRNA. It mediates superior in vitro transfection in dendritic cells (1.8E+05 intensity) and demonstrates best-in-class in vivo protein expression after intramuscular injection (2.2E+09 intensity). Most notably, in a B16-OVA melanoma model, therapeutic OVA-mRNA vaccines delivered by E12LA6B603 LNPs induced 100% complete tumor regression, highlighting its superior efficacy over benchmarks like DLin-MC3 and SM-102. Its biodegradable ester linkages and balanced structure make it a promising, potent candidate for next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.

CL15F 6-4 is a short-tail ionizable lipid from the piperidine-based CL15F series, characterized by its symmetric branched structure with a 6-carbon main chain and 4-carbon side chain. This specific tail length critically determines the lipid nanoparticle's (LNP) properties, resulting in larger particles with a high surface density of the phospholipid DSPC. This elevated DSPC density reduces interactions with serum proteins like ApoE, minimizing rapid liver clearance and shifting mRNA delivery preference towards the spleen. Consequently, CL15F 6-4 LNPs achieve efficient, endogenous spleen-targeted delivery, making them a highly promising candidate for enhancing vaccine efficacy by preferentially transfecting antigen-presenting cells without complex functionalization.

PyCB lipid (MeDZ) is a rationally designed zwitterionic ionizable lipid that serves as a core functional component in the novel three-component (ThrCo) lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform. It is synthesized by covalently attaching a zwitterionic PyCB structure to the hydroxyl group of the clinically available ionizable lipid ALC-0315.Its key feature is its pH-responsive behavior. At physiological pH (~7.4), the PyCB headgroup exhibits zwitterionic properties, forming charge-assisted hydrogen bonds with water molecules (PyCB-H₂O complexes). This confers high hydrophilicity to the LNP surface, enhancing stability in aqueous environments and reducing nonspecific protein adsorption in the bloodstream. This zwitterionic surface effectively mimics and replaces PEGylated lipids, thereby avoiding PEG immunogenicity and the associated Accelerated Blood Clearance (ABC) effect upon repeated administrations.Crucially, in the acidic environment of endosomes (pH ~6.5), the PyCB group undergoes strong protonation, rapidly transforming into a cationic state (PyCB-H₃O⁺ complexes). This promotes efficient fusion with and disruption of the endosomal membrane, facilitating the escape and cytoplasmic release of encapsulated mRNA.By replacing both cholesterol and PEGylated lipids in traditional LNPs, PyCB lipid enables the redirection of LNP biodistribution from the liver to the spleen, achieving superior spleen-specific mRNA translation and enhancing antigen presentation for potent immune activation.